The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is preparing to arraign Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
Malami is expected to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite, where he will enter a plea alongside his co-defendants. Chief J. S. Okutepa, SAN, will lead the prosecution team.
According to the charge sheet obtained by Channels Television, the EFCC has filed a 16-count charge against Malami, his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe. The charges include large-scale money laundering and the illegal acquisition of assets worth more than N8.7 billion.
The case, filed as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, alleges that the defendants conspired to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from unlawful activities. The EFCC claims that funds were moved through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over nearly ten years, mainly between 2015 and 2025 during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General.
Specifically, the commission alleges that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account from July 2022 to June 2025 and deposited an additional N600.01 million between September 2020 and February 2021. They are also accused of holding N600 million in cash as collateral for a N500 million loan obtained by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite knowing the funds were from illegal sources.
Further charges claim that between November 2022 and October 2025, the defendants indirectly controlled N1.36 billion through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd, allegedly sourced from unlawful activities.
Several counts relate to the acquisition of high-end properties in Abuja and other locations, which the EFCC says were purchased to conceal the origin and ownership of illicit funds. These properties reportedly include:
- Luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama (N500 million)
- Property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki (N700 million)
- Property in Jabi District (N850 million)
- Real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million)
- Properties in Asokoro District (N210 million and N325 million)
- Property at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (N120 million)
The EFCC also claims that Malami used N952 million in illicit funds to acquire additional properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023, often through proxies and corporate entities to hide ownership. Hajia Bashir Asabe, reportedly an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, is said to have facilitated these transactions.
The commission asserts that the alleged actions violate the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Witnesses listed by the EFCC include investigators, bank officials, bureau de change operators, and company representatives to support its case.