In a significant legal development, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, was brought before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday to face charges of alleged money laundering.
Court Appearance and Charges
Malami arrived at Court 8 of the Federal High Court in Abuja at approximately 8:55 am on Tuesday, 30 December 2025. He was accompanied by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The former minister is set to be arraigned alongside his son, also named Abubakar Malami, and Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, a firm connected to Malami.
The trio will answer to a 16-count charge before Justice Emeka Nwite. At the time proceedings were scheduled to begin, the court had not yet commenced sitting.
Details of the Allegations
The anti-graft agency's charge sheet accuses the defendants of orchestrating various suspicious financial transactions. The EFCC alleges they attempted to conceal the illegal origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and the acquisition of properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi.
The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 2015 and 2025. This period encompasses the eight years Malami served as the nation's chief law officer under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The commission claims that Malami, his son, and Asabe conspired to:
- Disguise the origin of funds.
- Acquire property indirectly.
- Retain sums they allegedly knew were the proceeds of unlawful activity.
These actions are said to violate the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
Specific Counts in the Charge
The EFCC has outlined specific, high-value transactions in the charges. In count one, the agency alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1 billion (N1,014,848,500) in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the money was derived from unlawful activities.
Count two states that between September 2020 and February 2021, the duo allegedly concealed more than N600 million (N600,013,460.40) through the same company.
The case represents a major test for Nigeria's anti-corruption institutions, involving a former top government official who was directly responsible for the nation's legal affairs and prosecution system. The outcome will be closely watched by legal experts and the public alike.
