FG information cash laundering cost towards ex-AGF Malami, son

The federal authorities has filed cash laundering and unlawful funds concealment fees towards a former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, earlier than the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja.

The fees come up from allegations of cash laundering involving funds of illegal origin exceeding ₦1.014 billion.

Additionally named as a co-defendant is Hajia Bashir Asabe.

In keeping with the 16-count cost, the federal government accused Malami, his son, and others of laundering and concealing ₦1,014,848,500.00 allegedly traced to a Sterling Bank Plc account (No. 0079182387).

Prosecutors alleged that the funds have been of illegal origin and that the defendants “fairly should have recognized” the cash represented proceeds of unlawful actions.

The prosecution additional alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, inside Abuja and the courtroom’s jurisdiction, the defendants procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Restricted to hide the supply of the funds, utilizing the corporate as a entrance to disguise the origin and motion of the cash—acts mentioned to represent cash laundering underneath Nigerian regulation.

The alleged offences are mentioned to be opposite to Part 21(c) of the Cash Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable underneath Part 18(3) of the identical Act.

The cost sheet particulars how Malami allegedly engaged Metropolitan Auto Tech Restricted within the laundering of funds. The fees embrace the next:

“That you simply Abubakar Malami SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between July 2022 and June, 2025 in Abuja throughout the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket did procure Metropolitan Auto Tech Restricted to hide the illegal origin of the whole sum of N1, 014, 848, 500.00 (One Billion, Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand, 5 Hundred Naira) within the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387 if you fairly should have recognized that the mentioned sum shaped proceeds of illegal actions and also you thereby dedicated an offence opposite to Part 21(c) of the Cash Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable underneath Part 18(3) of the identical Act.”

“That you simply Abubakar Malami SAN while being the Legal professional-Common of the Federation, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between September 2020 and February, 2021 in Abuja throughout the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket did procure Metropolitan Auto Tech Restricted to hide the illegal origin of the whole sum of N600,013,460.4 within the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387 if you fairly should have recognized that the mentioned sum shaped proceeds of illegal actions and also you thereby dedicated an offence opposite to Part 18(c) of the Cash Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012 and punishable underneath part 15(3) of the identical Act.”

“That you simply Abubakar Malami SAN while being the Legal professional-Common of the Federation and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami someday in March, 2021 in Abuja throughout the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket did retain the whole sum of N600,000,000.00 in Metropolitan Auto Tech Restricted as money collateral for a mortgage of N500,000,000.00 granted to RAYHAAN HOTELS LTD by Sterling Bank Plc if you fairly should have recognized that the mentioned money collateral of N600,000,000.00 was proceed of illegal actions and also you thereby dedicated an offence opposite to Part 18(c) of the Cash Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended punishable underneath part 15(3) of the identical Act.”

“That you simply Abubakar Malami SAN while being the Legal professional-Common of the Federation, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe an worker of Rahamaniyya Properties Restricted someday in November, 2022 in Abuja throughout the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket did not directly disguise the illegal origin of the combination sum of N500,000,000.00 paid to Efab Properties Ltd paid for buy of property generally known as luxurious duplex at Amazon road, Plot No. 3011 inside Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN if you fairly should have recognized that the mentioned N500million shaped proceed of illegal exercise and also you thereby dedicated an offence opposite to part 18(2)(a) and punishable underneath part 18(3) of the Cash Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Malami served as Nigeria’s Legal professional-Common and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023 underneath former President Muhammadu Buhari, a tenure repeatedly dogged by allegations of corruption and abuse of workplace, which he constantly denied whereas in workplace.

Recall, this newspaper had earlier reported that the Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja granted Malami interim bail in his ongoing authorized dispute with the EFCC. Justice Bello Kawu ordered his launch on the identical bail circumstances earlier set by the EFCC, pending the listening to of a substantive movement on discover.

Beneath the bail phrases, Malami is to give up his passport and ideal bail bonds executed by two sureties—the Director-Common of the Nigerian Authorized Help Council and a serving member of the Home of Representatives representing Augie/Argungu Federal Constituency.

The case has been adjourned to January 5, 2026, for listening to earlier than the Excessive Court docket of the Federal Capital Territory, presided over by Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji.

Malami now joins a rising checklist of former high authorities officers dealing with post-tenure investigations by the EFCC over alleged monetary crimes linked to their time in workplace.