Former AGF, Abubakar Malami in Court on Tuesday for his arraignment on alleged money laundering charge.
A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a 16-count money laundering charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Malami’s co-defendants—his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his fourth wife, Bashir Asabe—also pleaded not guilty to all the counts when the charges were read to them by the court registrar.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In the charge, the EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired at various times to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities running into several billions of naira.
According to the commission, the alleged offences span several years and involve the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds, the retention of cash as collateral for loans, and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.
The EFCC further alleged that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
In count one, the EFCC alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1 billion (N1,014,848,500) in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
Count two alleged that between September 2020 and February 2021, the duo allegedly concealed more than N600 million (N600,013,460.40) through the same company.
Details shortly…