The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, also ordered the remand of Malami’s co-defendants, including his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe.
Justice Nwite issued the remand order after hearing arguments from both parties, with the defence team led by Joseph Daudu (SAN) and the prosecution represented by Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).
Malami and his co-defendants are standing trial on a 16-count charge of money laundering instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants allegedly conspired at various times to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira.
The charge sheet alleges that the offences spanned several years and involved the use of multiple companies and bank accounts to launder illicit funds, the retention of large sums of cash as collateral for loans, as well as the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations across the country.
The EFCC further alleged that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendants were ordered to remain in custody pending further proceedings in the matter.
