The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, his son, Abdulaziz, and his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, in an ongoing money laundering trial.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling delivered on Wednesday, admitted Malami and his son to bail in the sum of N1bn, while his wife was granted bail of N500m.
The court ordered each defendant to provide two sureties in like sum. The sureties must own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice Nwite also directed that the defendants submit the title documents of the properties for verification, surrender their international passports, and ensure that their sureties depose to affidavits of means and submit two recent passport photographs.
The court warned that the defendants must not travel outside the country without permission and ruled that they should remain in custody until all bail conditions are fully met.
The case was adjourned until February 17 for trial.
Malami, who served as Attorney-General from November 2015 to May 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing a 16-count charge of money laundering.
He was arraigned alongside his son and wife by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which accused them of laundering about N9bn in public funds.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Malami used several companies to conceal proceeds of crime through property acquisitions in Abuja, Kebbi and Kano.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1.01bn in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025.
They were also accused of siphoning about N600m through the same company between September 2020 and February 2021.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendants retained N600m as cash collateral in March 2021 for a N500m loan obtained by Rayhaan Hotels Limited, despite knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The commission said the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
Investigators, bank officials, real estate agents and Bureau de Change operators are expected to testify during the trial.
