Abuja: The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF); his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami; and a co-defendant, Hajia Bashir Asabe, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications.
Justice Emeka Nwite, ruling on an oral bail application made by defence counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, held that it would be in the interest of justice and fair hearing to allow the prosecution respond to the bail application earlier filed by the defence.
“I have listened to the submissions of the learned counsel on both sides and also gone through the relevant laws.
“It is not in dispute that an application for bail has been filed by the defendants.
“It is also not in dispute that the bail application has been served on the prosecution.
“It is not in dispute that the application cannot be withdrawn by the defendants,” the judge said.
Justice Nwite noted that although the court had the discretion to grant bail, such discretion must be exercised after the prosecution had responded to the bail application already filed.
According to him, granting bail without hearing from the prosecution would amount to ambush and breach the prosecution’s right to fair hearing.
“This will breach the right to fair hearing of the prosecution.
“I am of the view that the interest of justice will be met by allowing the prosecution to respond to the bail application filed,” he said.
The judge consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications and adjourned the matter until January 2 for hearing.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, listed the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami as the first, second and third defendants respectively.
Malami, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, and Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, a firm linked to the former minister, all pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge bordering on money laundering when they were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants carried out various suspicious transactions and attempted to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed between 2015 and 2025, a period which includes the eight years Malami served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice during the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendants conspired to disguise the origin of funds, indirectly acquire properties, and retain sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
