Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) Abubakar Malami be remanded at Kuje prison in Abuja.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is to remain in Kuje prison till January 2, 2026 when his written bail application would be argued by his legal team and decided one way or the other by the court.
The oral bail request made on Tuesday by Malami’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu SAN was turned down by Justice Emeka Nwite on the ground it would amount to an ambush to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that put Malami on trial.
Justice Emeka Nwite said that since a written bail application has been filed and served on EFCC on Monday evening, the interest of justice would be met if EFCC is allowed to respond to the application as required by law.
The Judge said that since the written application has not been withdrawn and not yet responded to by EFCC, the oral bail request would have to give way.
Specifically, Justice Emeka Nwite said that the interest of justice would not be met if EFCC is not allowed to respond as required by law as doing so, would amount to denial of fair hearing for the anti-graft agency.
Earlier at the formal arraignment, Malami, SAN had denied the N12bn money laundering charges brought against him by the EFCC.
The former AGF and his co-defendants in the 16-count charges pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them before Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Dressed in yellow colour guinea brocade with cap to match, the former AGF who was looking unruffled in the dock vehemently dismissed the charges one after the other.
Malami, his son Abdulaziz Malami and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, Hajia Asabe Bashir, are accused of conspiracy and concealment of proceeds of unlawful activities running into billions of naira.
The defendants were said to have committed the various alleged offences between November 2015 and June 2025.
Malami, who was Minister of Justice under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been in custody of the anti-graft agency since December 8.
The EFCC in the charge filed by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, claimed that the funds allegedly acquired unlawfully were used for the purchase of luxury properties in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and other locations.
In count one, Malami and his son were said to have between between July 2022 and June 2025, “procure METROPOLITAN AUTO TECH LIMITED to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N1, 014, 848, 500.00 in the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387″, when they reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed proceeds of unlawful activities and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act”.
Malami and his son were in count two alleged to have procured the same METROPOLITAN AUTO TECH LIMITED to conceal the unlawful origin of another sum of over N600 million.
In another count, they were alleged to have in November 2022, used Rahamaniyya Properties Limited to conceal N500 million paid for a luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.
While in count five the trio were alleged to have sometimes in September 2024, conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N1, 049, 173, 926. 13 paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd Jabi savings Account No. 0179011105 between November 2022 and September 2024, they were in count six accused of indirectly taking control of the aggregate sum of N1, 362, 887, 872.96, paid through the savings account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd in Union Bank Plc when they “reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2) (d) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In another count, Malami, his son and Hajia Bashir were also charged with concealing the sum of N700 million paid for a property at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja, and N850 million for another property at Plot 683, Jabi District, Abuja.
Similarly, the three defendants were said to have in February 2018, acquired No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, for N430 million and in the same month concealed N210 million for No. 3130, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro, Abuja.
They were also charged with concealing N325 million for No. 1241B, Asokoro District, between March and June 2021, and N120 million for No. 27 Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja, between November 2015 and January 2016.
Following his not guilty plea, Malami’s lead counsel, Joseph Bodunde Daudu SAN had argued oral bail application on various grounds despite the pendecy of the written one that was served on EFCC.
Among others, he said that Malami is a former Minister of Justice and Senior Advocate of Nigeria and would not jump bail.
Besides, Daudu SAN said that the charges are bailable ones and not capital offences adding that Malami would not tamper with witnesses if admitted to bail.
Daudu also argued that the law presumes Malami innocent until proven guilty before the court.
The oral bail request was however vehemently opposed by EFCC lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Iheanacho SAN who pleaded with Justice Nwite to refuse it and allow only the written one to be argued.