The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday directed that a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), be kept at the Kuje Correctional Centre while his bail request is being considered.
The order, issued by Justice Emeka Nwite, also affects two other defendants in the case — Malami’s son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe.
The ruling followed submissions from both sides, with the defence team led by Joseph Daudu (SAN) and the prosecution represented by Ekele Iheneacho (SAN), who argued their positions before the court.
Malami and the two co-defendants are standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants allegedly worked together at different times to hide, keep and disguise proceeds believed to have been obtained unlawfully, amounting to several billions of naira.
The charges further allege that the transactions involved the use of multiple companies and bank accounts, the holding of large sums of cash as loan collateral, as well as the purchase of expensive properties located in Abuja, Kano and other parts of the country.
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The EFCC also claims that some of the alleged offences were carried out during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation, actions it says violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
The court is expected to fix a date for the hearing and determination of the defendants’ bail applications.