Abubakar Malami: One of the defendants standing trial alongside former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has been rushed to the clinic at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, following a sudden illness.
Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, the son of the former Attorney-General, was reportedly admitted for medical observation on Tuesday after he “suddenly fell ill,” according to prison sources who spoke with SaharaReporters.
The incident occurred shortly after he was remanded in custody alongside his father and Malami’s fourth wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe.
A prison source disclosed:
“Malami’s son suddenly fell sick and was rushed to the Kuje clinic to stay there for observation.”
Arraignment and Charges
Earlier on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Abubakar Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son Abdulaziz before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.
The trio are facing a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to ₦8,713,923,759.49.
The charges are brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the commencement of proceedings, the prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the arraignment was for the defendants to take their pleas.
Defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection. All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Nwite subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed January 2, 2026, for hearing of their bail applications.
Allegations by the EFCC
According to court filings obtained by SaharaReporters, the EFCC alleges that Malami, while serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, used fronts and corporate entities to launder public funds.
The companies allegedly involved include Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd and Meethaq Hotels Ltd.
One of the charges claims that Malami and his son procured over ₦1,014,848,500 through Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd between July 2022 and June 2025, with the intent to conceal the origin of the funds in a Sterling Bank account.
Another count alleges that Malami used ₦600 million as collateral to secure a loan for Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite allegedly knowing that the funds were of suspicious origin.
The EFCC further accused the defendants of using property companies and Bureau De Change operators to disguise payments for several high-value properties in Abuja and other locations. The properties listed in the charge sheet include:
- A ₦500 million luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama;
- A ₦700 million property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki;
- An ₦850 million Meethaq Hotels property in Jabi;
- A ₦430 million property on Rhine Street, Maitama;
- Properties valued at ₦537 million in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi.
- Two of the properties were specifically described as Hamonia Hotels Ltd, Area 11, Garki, and Meethaq Hotels on Rhine Street, Maitama.
Witnesses and Trial
In documents tendered as Proof of Evidence, the EFCC listed several witnesses, including investigators, Bureau De Change operators, and bankers.
The anti-graft agency stated that its officials—Folarin Dare, Chinedu Eneanya, and Sani Lukeman will testify on how petitions and intelligence reports triggered investigations into what the Commission described as “monumental corruption” allegedly linked to the former minister.
One witness, Hassan Aliyu, reportedly claimed that his company’s bank account was used for suspicious multi-million-naira transactions without his full knowledge.
Defence Position
Despite the weight of the allegations, Malami and his co-defendants have maintained their innocence.
Their not-guilty pleas have set the stage for a full trial, which is expected to attract significant public and legal interest, given Malami’s former position as Nigeria’s chief law officer.
Meanwhile, Abdulaziz Malami remains under medical observation at the Kuje prison clinic as of the time of filing this report.
LegalLinkz will continue to monitor and report developments in this high-profile case.
