Citizenship News
The former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister, of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, his son and wife are to further remain in Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the ruling on their bail application.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the federal high court, Friday fixed the date for ruling on the application after Counsel in the matter argued case.
Malami, his son, Abdullaziz and Asabe Bashir are standing trial over allegation of fraud.
Before the trial started, Friday, operatives of the Economic amd Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the officials of the Nogeria Correctional Centre, NCC, clashed at a Federal High Court, Abuja, over the security arrangement at the court.
Apparently, the two agencies engaged themselves over who should be in charge of security during the trial of the former minister.
On December 30, the court ordered his remand at the Kuje correctional centre till January 2, when his bail application will be heard.
Both officials of the two agencies threatened to shoot themselves over who should take charge of security at the court’s entrance.
Both EFCC and correctional service would now have to clear you as journalists before you enter the court.
They stopped some newsmen from gaining access into the courtroom, saying the court room is filled up.
The charges include large-scale money laundering and the illegal acquisition of properties worth over N8.7 billion.
According to the charge, the EFCC accused the defendants of engaging in multiple suspicious financial transactions and attempting to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states.
The EFCC alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025, in addition to depositing N600.01 million through the same channel between September 2020 and February 2021
The anti-graft agency alleged that Malami, his son and Asabe conspired to disguise the origin of illicit funds, acquire properties indirectly and retain proceeds they allegedly knew were derived from unlawful activities, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
The prosecution also listed several properties allegedly acquired with illicit funds, including a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, purchased for N500 million; a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, acquired for N700 million; and another in Jabi District bought for N850 million. Other properties include real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million), two properties in Asokoro District (N210 million and N325 million), and a house at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, valued at N120 million.
The EFCC further alleged that between 2018 and 2023, Malami used unlawful proceeds amounting to N952 million to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano and Birnin Kebbi, allegedly through proxies and corporate entities in a bid to conceal ownership.
