Just In: Court Fixes N1bn Bail For Malami, Son; Wife Gets N500m

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his son Abdulaziz, and his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, over an alleged N9 billion money laundering case.

Justice Emeka Nwite admitted Malami and his son to bail in the sum of N1 billion each, while his wife was granted bail of N500 million.

The court ordered each defendant to produce two sureties in the like sum, who must be owners of landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa within the Federal Capital Territory.

The sureties are to submit title documents for verification, recent passport photographs and swear to an affidavit of means. The defendants were also ordered to surrender their international passports and barred from travelling outside Nigeria without court approval.

The court directed that they remain in custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions and adjourned the case until February 17 for trial.

Malami, who served as justice minister between 2015 and 2023, is standing trial alongside his son and wife on a 16-count charge of money laundering.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that the defendants laundered about N9 billion through property acquisitions in Abuja, Kebbi and Kano, as well as through companies including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited and Rayhaan Hotels Limited.

The agency said the offences contravened provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, adding that investigators, bank officials, real estate agents and Bureau de Change operators would testify in the case.