iDeemlawful—A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved a total bail of N1.5 billion for former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife, Asabe Bashir, and their son, Abdulaziz Malami.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite granted each defendant bail in the sum of N500 million in connection with the alleged N8.7 billion money laundering charges instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court ordered that each defendant must present two sureties in the same amount, with the sureties required to own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It further directed that the defendants must submit valid title documents of the properties for verification and surrender their international passports to the court.
MOST READ ARTICLES
Additionally, the judge ruled that the sureties must provide two recent passport photographs and swear to an affidavit of means.
The court also warned that none of the defendants should leave the country without prior approval.Justice Nwite held that they would remain in custody until all bail conditions are fully met.
The matter was adjourned until February 17 for the commencement of trial.
Malami, who served as Attorney-General and Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering.
He was arraigned alongside his wife and son, with Asabe Bashir identified as a staff member of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, a company alleged to have been used to disguise proceeds of unlawful activities through real estate transactions.
The court noted that Malami’s continued detention, which has lasted 31 days, would end once the bail conditions are satisfied.
The EFCC initially detained him between December 8 and December 30, 2025, after which he was transferred to the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja following his arraignment.
His wife and son have also spent 16 days in custody as of Wednesday, having been held by the EFCC from December 23 until their arraignment on December 30, when they were remanded alongside Malami.