The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is set to arraign former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday before the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, over alleged money laundering offences.
Mr Malami will appear in court alongside his son, Abubakar Malami, and Asabe Bashir, said to be an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, a company linked to the former minister.
The defendants are to be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on a 16-count charge.
The former AGF has reportedly been under investigation by the EFCC since December 8. The commission alleged that the defendants engaged in several suspicious financial dealings and attempted to conceal the illegal origin of large sums of money through multiple bank accounts and property purchases in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences occurred between 2015 and 2025, covering the eight-year period during which Mr Malami served as Attorney-General of the Federation under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Mr Malami, his son, and Ms Bashir worked together to disguise the sources of the funds, acquire properties through indirect means, and retain monies they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity.
These actions were said to contravene the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
In the first count, the EFCC alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Mr Malami and his son instructed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1 billion (N1,014,848,500) in a Sterling Bank account, despite knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The second count alleged that between September 2020 and February 2021, the duo concealed more than N600 million (N600,013,460.40) through the same company. In the third count, the commission claimed that in March 2021, Mr Malami and his son retained N600 million as cash collateral for a N500 million loan from Sterling Bank to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, while allegedly being aware that the funds were illicit.
In count four, the EFCC alleged that in November 2022, Mr Malami, his son, and Ms Bashir disguised N500 million used to purchase a luxury duplex in Maitama, Abuja. Count five stated that between November 2022 and September 2024, the trio conspired to conceal N1,049,173,926.13 paid through Meethaq Hotels Ltd’s Union Bank account.
Count six accused them of withdrawing N1,362,887,872.96 from the same account between November 2022 and October 2025, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity, and of allowing Mr Malami and his son to take control of the account.
In count seven, the EFCC alleged that in November and December 2018, Mr Malami and Ms Bashir concealed N700 million used to acquire No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja, through Hamonia Hotels Ltd.
Count eight alleged that between September and December 2020, Mr Malami, his son, and Ms Bashir concealed N850 million to purchase a property in the Jabi District of Abuja through Meethaq Hotels Ltd.
Count nine stated that in February 2018, Mr Malami and Ms Bashir acquired No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, for N430 million, allegedly using funds from unlawful sources.
In count 10, the EFCC alleged that the pair concealed N210 million in February 2018 to purchase a property in Asokoro District, Abuja. Count 11 claimed that between March and June 2021, they concealed N325 million used to acquire No. 1241B Asokoro District, Abuja. Count 12 alleged that between November 2015 and January 2016, the duo concealed N120 million used to purchase No. 27 Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Count 13 alleged that in November 2022, the former AGF, his son, and Ms Bashir conspired to hide funds used to acquire a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.
In count 14, the commission alleged that between December 2016 and April 2022, Mr Malami, Ms Bashir, and others “conspired to acquire additional properties” for the former AGF with proceeds of unlawful activity.
Count 15 alleged that between June 2023 and January 2023, Mr Malami concealed “N537 million used to purchase multiple properties across Abuja, Kebbi, and Kano”. In count 16, the EFCC alleged that between October 2018 and December 2021, Mr Malami concealed N415 million used to acquire several properties in Abuja, Kebbi, and Kano.
The EFCC disclosed that it intends to call several witnesses during the trial, including its own officials, representatives of commercial banks, bureau de change operators, and other financial experts.
Among the listed witnesses are Folarin Dare, Chinedu Eneanya, Sani Lukeman, Abdulrahman Musa Basheer, Jamilu Mohammed, as well as representatives of Zenith Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc.
Folarin Dare, Chinedu Eneanya, and Sani Lukeman are expected to testify on how the EFCC received intelligence reports and petitions alleging large-scale corruption involving the former minister.
Abdulrahman Musa Basheer is expected to give evidence on the alleged role of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd in purchasing properties for Mr Malami.
