The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has ordered the remand of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his son, Abubakar Abdul-aziz Malami and Hajiya Bashir Asabe in Kuje prison until January 2, 2026.
Hajiya Bashir Asabe, is said to be an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, a firm allegedly linked to the former minister.
The implication is that the defendants will spend the New Year’s Day in prison custody.
Justice Emeka Nwite made the remand order while ruling on an oral bail application made by counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu (SAN).
In his ruling , Justice Nwite said it would serve the interest of justice and fair hearing to allow the prosecution respond to the formal bail application earlier filed by the defendants
In addition, the judge said,”I have listened to the submissions of the learned counsel for both sides and also gone through the relevant laws. It is not in dispute that a bail application has been filed by the defendants.
“It is also not in dispute that the bail application has been served on the prosecution. It is not in dispute that the application cannot be withdrawn by the defendants,” he said.
The judge said that although the court could exercise its power by granting bail, the exercise of such power would be possible after the prosecution has responded to the bail application filed by the defence.
Justice Nwite said it would amount to an ambush for the court to grant the bail application while the prosecution was yet to file a response to the defence’s bail application.
He added, “This will breach the right to a fair hearing against the prosecution. I am of the view that the interest of justice will be met by allowing the prosecution to respond to the bail application filed.”
The defendants were earlier arraigned on a 16-count money laundering charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC is among others, claiming that Malami and his two co-defendants conspired to disguise the origin of funds, acquire properties indirectly, and retain sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which prosecuting counsel,, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), applied for a date for the commencement of trial.
Daudu then told the court about his intention to apply for bail for the defendants.
Responding, Iheanacho said he had yet to respond to the formal bail application filed by the defendants and applied for an adjournment to enable him respond to the bail application.
Iheanacho said, “In view of the non-guilty plea of the defendants, may we apply for a trial date for the defendants.
“I know we received an application for bail, and we will be seeking your lordship’s indulgence for a date to respond.
“We got the application yesterday around 3 pm. We will be asking for a date to respond.”
Daudu then said even though a formal bail application had been filed by the defendant, he could equally make an oral application, citing a 1995 case involving Abiola Vs. Federal Republic of Nigeria.
.After listening to the lawyers of both sides, Justice Nwite suspended proceedings briefly but returned later to deliver the ruling.
The EFCC had filed a 16-count charge against Malami, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, alleging large-scale money laundering and the unlawful acquisition of properties valued at over N8.7 billion.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, accused the defendants of conspiring to conceal, disguise, retain, and indirectly acquire proceeds of unlawful activities through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over nearly a decade.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, largely within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s tenure as the nation’s chief law officer.
The EFCC alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal N1.014 billion lodged in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025, as well as an additional N600.01 million deposited between September 2020 and February 2021.
The defendants were also accused of retaining N600 million as cash collateral for a N500 million loan obtained by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd from Sterling Bank Plc, allegedly knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
In another count, the commission alleged that between November 2022 and October 2025, the defendants indirectly controlled N1.36 billion paid through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd, which it said was illicit in origin.
Several counts relate to the alleged acquisition of high-end properties in Abuja and other locations, purportedly to disguise the source and beneficial ownership of the funds.
These included payments of N500 million for a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama; N700 million for a property at Onitsha Crescent, Garki; and N850 million for a property in Jabi District.
Other alleged acquisitions include: properties at Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million); Asokoro District (N210 million and N325 million); and Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (N120 million).
The EFCC further alleged that Malami utilised unlawful proceeds, totalling N952 million to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi,between 2018 and 2023, using proxies and corporate fronts to obscure ownership.
Bashir Asabe described as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, was alleged to have played a key role in facilitating the property acquisitions and disguising ownership on Malami’s behalf.
The commission said the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
It listed investigators, bank officials, bureau de change operators, and company representatives among its proposed witnesses.
