A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, his wife, and his son, setting the total bond at a staggering N1.5 billion.
Strict Bail Conditions Imposed
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling delivered on the morning of Tuesday, January 7, approved the bail for Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), his wife Hajia Asabe, and his son Abdulaziz. The court mandated that each of the three defendants must provide two sureties. These sureties must own landed properties in highbrow areas of Abuja, specifically Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa districts.
Furthermore, the sureties are required to submit the title documents of these properties for verification by the court. They must also provide two recent passport photographs and swear to an affidavit of means. The court imposed additional restrictions on the defendants themselves, ordering them to surrender their travel passports. Justice Nwite explicitly warned that they must not travel outside Nigeria without the court's permission.
Remand Until Bail Perfection
Despite granting bail, the judge ordered that Malami and his family members should remain in prison custody until they successfully meet all the stringent conditions. The case has been adjourned for trial to commence on February 17.
The charges stem from Malami's tenure as the nation's chief law officer. He served as the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The 16-Count Money Laundering Charge
Malami, alongside his son and wife, faces a 16-count charge related to money laundering. The charges allege the concealment of proceeds from unlawful activities through property transactions. Hajia Asabe was identified in the charge sheet as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, a company prosecutors claim was used as a vehicle for these alleged illicit deals.
The arraignment and subsequent bail hearing mark a significant development in the legal proceedings against the former minister, drawing national attention to issues of accountability and the legal process for high-profile figures.
