By Ayomide Otitoju
The Federal Government has arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, on 16 alleged money laundering charges involving over ₦1.014 billion. The case has been filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the charges, the government accused Malami, his son, and associates of laundering and concealing ₦1,014,848,500 allegedly traced to a commercial bank. The 16-count charge alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, within Abuja, the defendants engaged Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to disguise the unlawful origin of the funds.
The government claims the company was used as a front to conceal the origin and movement of the money, an act it says contravenes Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, punishable under Section 18(3) of the same law.
Specific allegations include:
Between September 2020 and February 2021, the defendants allegedly used the company to conceal ₦600,013,460.40 in a Sterling Bank account.
In March 2021, Malami and his son allegedly retained ₦600 million as cash collateral for a loan granted to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
Between November 2022 and September 2024, the defendants allegedly conspired to disguise over ₦1.049 billion paid through Meethaq Hotels Ltd accounts for property purchases in Abuja.
Other charges include the alleged concealment and acquisition of multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states, with sums ranging from hundreds of millions to over ₦1.3 billion, allegedly sourced from unlawful activities.
The charges detail multiple transactions spanning from 2015 to 2025, involving properties purchased through Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, Meethaq Hotels Ltd, and other entities.
Malami served as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
