By Ayomide Otitoju
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside two other defendants, in the sum of ₦500 million.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite ordered that each defendant must produce two sureties who own landed property in highbrow areas of Abuja, including Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa. The sureties are also required to submit affidavits of means and deposit their travel documents with the court.
The judge further directed that the property documents presented by the sureties be verified by the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar. Malami was similarly ordered to deposit his travel documents and was barred from travelling outside the country without prior approval of the court. Both Malami and his sureties are to submit two recent passport photographs to the court.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, Justice Nwite ordered that Malami be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The court fixed February 17 for the commencement of trial in the case. The bail conditions were equally extended to Malami’s son, Abdulaziz Malami, and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, Hajia Asabe Bashir.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering against Malami, his son, and his wife.
