Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his son and another individual, has pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering.
The defendants were arraigned on Tuesday before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed the charges against Malami, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, accusing them of large-scale money laundering and the unlawful acquisition of properties valued at over N8.7 billion.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired to conceal, retain, and disguise proceeds of illegal activities through the use of multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions spanning nearly a decade.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, mainly within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation.
The commission alleged that Malami and his son used a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to launder N1.014 billion through a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025, in addition to another N600.01 million allegedly deposited between September 2020 and February 2021.
The properties listed in the charge include a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, acquired for N500 million; a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, purchased for N700 million; and another in Jabi District valued at N850 million. Other assets include properties on Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million); two properties in Asokoro District valued at N210 million and N325 million; and a property at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, worth N120 million.
The EFCC further alleged that Malami used unlawful proceeds totaling N952 million to acquire additional properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023, allegedly through proxies and corporate entities to conceal ownership.
Hajia Bashir Asabe, said to be an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, was accused of playing a key role in facilitating the property transactions and disguising ownership on Malami’s behalf.
The commission stated that the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC is expected to call several witnesses, including investigators, bank officials, bureau de change operators, and company representatives, to substantiate its case.