- Former minister of justice Abubakar Malami is the son, and others have pleaded not guilty to 16 money laundering charges
- The EFCC had alleged that over ₦8.7 billion was involved in an extensive money laundering scheme
- The former minister’s legal team vowed to contest allegations and defend their innocence in court
Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering.
Source: Twitter
The defendants appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, December 30.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed the charges, accusing the trio of large-scale money laundering and illegal acquisition of properties worth over ₦8.7 billion.
Allegations cover nearly a decade of illicit activity
The indictment, identified as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, alleges that the defendants conspired to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from illegal activities between 2015 and 2025, primarily within the Federal Capital Territory, during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General, Vanguard reported
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The EFCC claims Malami and his son used multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions to indirectly acquire the illicit funds.
They allegedly channelled ₦1.014 billion through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited into a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025, with an additional ₦600.01 million deposited between September 2020 and February 2021.
Properties purchased with alleged laundered funds
The properties in question include:
- A luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama – ₦500 million
- A property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki – ₦700 million
- A property in Jabi District – ₦850 million
- Real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama – ₦430 million
- Properties in Asokoro District – ₦210 million and ₦325 million
- Property at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa – ₦120 million
The EFCC further alleges that Malami used unlawful proceeds totaling ₦952 million to acquire additional properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023, using proxies and corporate entities to obscure ownership, Channels Television reported.
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Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, is said to have facilitated these property deals.
EFCC outlines legal violations and witnesses
According to the EFCC, the actions of the defendants violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The commission has listed investigators, bank officials, bureau de change operators, and company representatives as witnesses.
Malami camp maintains innocence
Speaking briefly after the arraignment, a legal representative for Malami said:
Source: Facebook
“Our clients maintain their innocence and will vigorously defend themselves against these allegations. They are confident that the truth will prevail in court.”
The court adjourned proceedings to a later date for mention and further hearing.
EFCC reportedly traced ex-AGF Malami’s billions to Paris Club Refunds
Fresh details have emerged on how operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) traced properties and assets worth over N200 billion to Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
Investigations by the anti-graft agency linked a significant portion of Malami’s wealth to three major financial transactions handled during his tenure under former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2023.
Source: Legit.ng