The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The court also ordered that Malami’s son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, be remanded in the same facility.
The order was made on Tuesday by the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.
Justice Nwite gave the ruling after listening to arguments from the defence counsel, led by Joseph Daudu, and the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).
Malami and the other defendants are standing trial on a 16-count charge of money laundering filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired at different times to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira.
According to the charge, the alleged offences were committed over a number of years and involved the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds.
The commission also accused the defendants of retaining large sums of cash as collateral for loans and acquiring high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.
The EFCC further alleged that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation.
The alleged actions, according to the commission, are in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
The case has been adjourned, with the defendants expected to remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre until their bail application is heard and determined.
