By TAIYE AGBAJE

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, warned lawyers and litigants against any attempt to approach him with a view to influence court decisions or judgments.

Justice Nwite gave the warning shortly after he delivered the ruling on a consolidated bail application filed by Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and his co-defendants.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ex-AGF’s co-defendants include his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, who are facing alleged N8.7 billion money laundering charge.

“Before concluding, I want to admonish and warn counsel and litigants, that all judges are not the same.

“When I am handling any case, please don’t approach me.

“When you are doing your case, you can get the best lawyers in this country to do your case but don’t attempt to approach me for any help.

“I am not the type of judge. I know what God has done for me by given me this job and I have vow to do it to the best of my ability.

“I have sworn before Almighty God and man that I am going to do my duty without fear or favour,” he said.

The judge, who warned lawyers and litigants to desist from coming to him with the aim of perverting justice, said: “Any attempt to try this will be vehemently resisted.”

Justice Nwite said instead, his judgments and decisions could be tested by approaching the Court of Appeal up to the Supreme Court.

Earlier, the judge admitted Malami, his wife and son to a N500 million bail each with two sureties each in the like sum who must be property owners in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa within the Federal Capital Territory.

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

He declared 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 Feb. 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, 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. (NAN)