By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, admitted Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF); his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz and wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, to a N500 million bail each with two sureties each in the like sum.

Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, held that the reasons adduced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for opposing the defendants’ bail application were not concrete enough to deny them the request.

According to Justice Nwite, it tilts towards speculations.

The judge, therefore, granted their bail in the sum of N500 million each with two sureties who must be property owners in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa within the Federal Capital Territory.

He said that the documents of the landed property must be verified by the deputy registrar, Litigation, of the court.

He said that the defendants must deposit all their international passports to the deputy registrar, Litigation, of the court and they must not travel outside the country without the court permission.

Justice Nwite also ordered that the defendants and their sureties must deposit two passport photographs each to the court registrar.

Besides, the judge ordered that the residents of the sureties must be verified by the court registrar.

Justice Nwite, who ordered that the defendants must remain in Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres pending the perfection of their bail conditions, adjourned the matter until Jan. 17 for commencement of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, named the ex-minister, Hajia Bashir Asabe, his wife and an employee of a firm linked to the former minister, Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, and his son as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

The anti-graft agency, in the 16 counts, accused the defendants of carrying out various suspicious transactions and attempting to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi.

They allegedly committed the offences between 2015 and 2025, a period that includes the eight years Malami served as the AGF during the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The commission alleged that Malami, his son, and Asabe conspired to disguise the origin of funds, acquire property indirectly, and retain sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 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 Sept. 2020 and Feb. 2021, the duo allegedly concealed more than N600 million (N600,013,460.40) through the same company.

In count three, the commission alleged that in March 2021, Malami and his son retained N600 million as cash collateral for a N500 million Sterling Bank loan to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite knowing the funds were illicit.

Count four alleged that in Nov. 2022, Mr Malami, his son, and Asabe disguised N500 million used to purchase a luxury duplex in Maitama, Abuja.

In count five, the EFCC claimed that between Nov. 2022 and Sept. 2024, the trio conspired to conceal N1,049,173,926.13 paid through Meethaq Hotels Ltd’s Union Bank account.

Count six accused them that between Nov. 2022 and Oct. 2025, Malami and his son allegedly took control of N1,362,887,872.96 from the same account, knowing it was illicit.

Count seven alleged that in Nov. to Dec. 2018, Malami and Asabe concealed N700 million used to purchase No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja (Hamonia Hotels Ltd).

In count eight, between Sept. and Dec. 2020, the duo and Asabe allegedly concealed N850 million to buy a property in Jabi District, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Ltd).

Count nine stated that in Feb. 2018, Malami and Hajia Bashir acquired No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, for N430 million, allegedly from unlawful sources.

In count 10, the pair allegedly concealed N210 million in Feb. 2018 to purchase a property in Asokoro District, Abuja.

Count 11 alleged that between March and June 2021, they concealed N325 million used to acquire No. 1241B Asokoro District, Abuja.

In count 12, the EFCC alleged that between Nov. 2015 and Jan. 2016, the duo concealed N120 million used to purchase No. 27 Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja.

Count 13 alleged that in Nov. 2022, tye ex-AGF, his son, and Asabe conspired to hide funds used to acquire a luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.

In count 14, between Dec. 2016 and April 2022, Malami, Asabe, and others allegedly “conspired to acquire additional properties” for Malami with proceeds of unlawful activity.

Count 15 alleged that between June 2023 and Jan. 2023, Malami allegedly concealed “N537 million used to purchase multiple properties across Abuja, Kebbi, and Kano.”

In count 16, the EFCC alleged that between Oct. 2018 and Dec. 2021, Malami concealed “N415 million used to acquire several properties in Abuja, Kebbi, and Kano.”

The EFCC said it planned o call several witnesses, including commission staff, bank representatives, Bureau de Change operators and other financial experts.

Key witnesses include Folarin Dare, Chinedu Eneanya, Sani Lukeman, Abdulrahman Musa Basheer, Jamilu Mohammed, and representatives of Zenith Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc.

Folarin Dare, Chinedu Eneanya, and Sani Lukeman are expected to testify on how the EFCC received intelligence and petitions of alleged monumental corruption against the former minister.

Abdulrahman Musa Basheer is to provide evidence on Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd’s role in allegedly purchasing property for Malami.(NAN)

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