Ex-AGF Malami, Family Granted ₦500m Bail Each

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, bail for ₦500 million, pending trial.

The bail was also granted to Malami’s son, Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Hajia Asabe Bashir, with each required to meet the same bail conditions.

All three are standing trial on a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering amounting to ₦8.7 billion.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite ordered that each defendant must produce two sureties in like sum. The sureties are required to own landed property in Abuja, specifically within Maitama, Asokoro or Gwarimpa, with property documents to be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

The court also directed the sureties to depose to affidavits of means.

Malami was further ordered to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court and is barred from travelling out of the country without prior permission.

The defendants and their sureties are also to submit two recent passport photographs each.

Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, Malami is to remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The trial was adjourned to February 17, 2026, for the commencement of the hearing.

According to the EFCC, the charges include allegations that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over ₦1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that Malami, his son and his wife conspired to disguise over ₦1.04 billion paid through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024.

Another count accused Malami and his son of indirectly controlling about ₦1.36 billion through the Union Bank savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited between November 2022 and October 2025, allegedly knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.