In a dramatic shift of fortunes, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has been ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The ruling, delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, also affects his co-defendants: his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe. The trio will remain in custody pending the hearing and subsequent determination of their bail applications.
The remand order was issued by Justice Emeka Nwite following an intense session where arguments were heard from both sides of the bar. Malami’s defense team was led by Joseph Daudu (SAN), while the prosecution was represented by Ekele Iheneacho (SAN) on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former chief law officer and his family members are facing a rigorous 16-count money laundering charge. The EFCC’s case centers on allegations of a massive financial conspiracy designed to hide the origins of illicit wealth.
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Key Allegations in the EFCC Charge:
– Conspiracy: Allegedly working together to conceal, retain, and disguise billions of naira in proceeds from unlawful activities.
– Asset Acquisition: Using laundered funds to acquire high-value properties in strategic locations, including Abuja and Kano.
– Financial Manipulation: Using various companies and bank accounts to move funds and utilizing large cash sums as collateral for loans.
The anti-graft commission noted that the timeline of these alleged crimes spans several years. Crucially, the prosecution contends that a portion of these offenses took place while Malami was still serving as the nation’s Attorney-General.
These actions are cited as direct violations of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the more recent Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
With the court now ordering their stay at the Kuje facility, the case marks one of the most high-profile prosecutions of a former judicial executive in recent Nigerian history.