Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday, January 2, 2025, further remanded former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, in the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, pending ruling on their bail applications.
The court adjourned the matter to January 7, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications filed by the defendants.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the defendants over alleged money laundering offences involving the sum of ₦8,713,923,759.49 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo).
They are facing a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for hearing of the defendants’ bail applications. However, counsel to the defendants, J.B. Daudu, SAN, told the court that the prosecution had just served them with a counter affidavit in court, necessitating time to study and respond.
After reviewing the processes, Daudu filed a counter affidavit of about 28 to 30 paragraphs, challenging the continued detention of the defendants. The prosecution, in turn, sought time to study the fresh processes filed by the defence.
Arguments ensued between counsel over the exchange of processes, with the defence urging the court to proceed, while the prosecution appealed for time to adequately respond. Following submissions from both sides, and with no objection, the court struck out an application and granted another as prayed by the defence.
Moving the bail applications, Daudu urged the court to admit the three defendants to bail. He prayed that the first defendant be admitted on self-recognisance, while the second and third defendants be granted bail on liberal terms. He argued that the offences were bailable and that the defendants were presumed innocent until proven guilty, adding that they had earlier been granted administrative bail by the EFCC.
Opposing the applications, Iheanacho told the court that the EFCC filed three separate counter affidavits against the defendants on January 2, 2026, alleging, among others, interference with witnesses and evidence. He urged the court to rely on the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to refuse bail.
In his remarks, Justice Nwite noted the volume of high-profile cases before the court during the vacation period but assured that justice would be served promptly.
“I have many high-profile cases during this vacation period, but justice will be served in the shortest possible time,” he said.
The case was thereafter adjourned to January 7, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications.
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