By Ayomide Otitoju
A Federal High Court, Abuja has granted bail to former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, his wife Asabe Bashir, and their son Abdulaziz Malami, in an ongoing money laundering trial.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the bail at ₦200 million each, with two sureties of equal value. One of the sureties must deposit title deeds of properties in either Maitama or Asokoro, highbrow districts in Abuja. The court also ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports. Pending compliance, the family remains in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Malami, his wife, and son are accused of laundering about ₦8.7 billion through a network of companies and property acquisitions, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited and Meethaq Hotels Limited. Prosecutors allege the funds were used to purchase high-value properties in Abuja, as well as in Kano and Kebbi States.
The case was reassigned to Justice Abdulmalik after previous judges recused themselves or transferred the file.
Separately, Malami and his son face a five-count charge of alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms. They are accused of failing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers while serving as AGF in 2022 and of unlawfully possessing a Sturm Magnum firearm with live and spent cartridges discovered at their Birnin Kebbi residence in December 2025. The prosecution of this matter was recently taken over by the office of Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi on March 4, 2026, with the next hearing scheduled for March 10, 2026.
In related proceedings, a Federal High Court had ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami, reportedly valued at ₦213 billion.
The legal proceedings have drawn political attention following Malami’s defection to the African Democratic Congress, with some supporters claiming the charges are politically motivated and connected to his departure from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The money laundering trial is expected to begin on March 16, 2026, when the court will start hearing evidence from both the prosecution and defence.
