Former Attorney General of Federation, Malami with immediate family to spend New Year’s Day in prison over money laundering
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his wife and son at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of their bail applications.
Penpushing reports that Justice Emeka Nwite gave the remand order after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the family jointly on money laundering charges on Tuesday
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the 16 counts brought against the family, accused them of illegitimate acquisition and concealment of the origins of multi-billion-naira worth of assets, including a university and hotel, mall, and residential houses, among others, in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi.
Penpushing further reports that the anti-crimes commission has traced N200 billion worth of assets to Malami in the three locations, while his son, Abdulaziz Malami; and his wife, Asabe Bashir, described an employee of a firm linked to the former minister, Rahamaniyya Properties Limited all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defence lawyers, thereafter, attempted to present their clients’ bail applications, a move the anti-crimes agency opposed on grounds that the prosecution needed time to file a written response to the bail request.
Penpushing also reports that the defence urged the judge to take oral arguments from lawyers and dispense with the written bail applications already filed on behalf of the defendants, but the judge in turning down the option of oral arguments, said the bail application had only been served on the prosecution a day earlier and allowing an oral application at that stage would amount to an ambush.
The judge pointed out that the interest of justice will be met by allowing the prosecution adequate time to respond to the written bail application, and therefore adjourned January 2, 2026 for hearing of the bail application which imply that they will spend the New Year’s Day in prison.
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