Money laundering: Malami, wife, son to spend New Year in prison

Malami

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), will spend the New Year in custody after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged money laundering involving billions of naira.

Justice Emeka Nwite, on Tuesday, also ordered the remand of Malami’s co-defendants, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and one of his wives, Asabe Bashir, pending the hearing and determination of their bail application fixed for January 2, 2026.

The defendants were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on 16 counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering. They all pleaded not guilty.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired at various times to “conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities” running into several billions of naira through the use of companies and bank accounts, the retention of cash as collateral for loans, and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations. Punch