EFCC to arraign Malami today

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is scheduled to arraign Abubakar Malami, SAN, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday

Malami is expected to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite, where he will enter a plea alongside his co-defendants. The prosecution will be led by Chief J. S. Okutepa, SAN.

According to the charge sheet obtained by Channels Television, the EFCC has filed a 16-count charge against Malami, his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe. The charges include large-scale money laundering and the illegal acquisition of properties valued at over N8.7 billion.

The case, filed as FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, alleges that the defendants conspired to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from unlawful activities. The EFCC claims they used multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate transactions over a period of nearly ten years to acquire the illicit funds indirectly. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2015 and 2025, mainly in the Federal Capital Territory during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General.

Specifically, the EFCC alleges that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal N1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025, in addition to depositing N600.01 million from September 2020 to February 2021. They are also accused of retaining N600 million in cash as collateral for a N500 million loan obtained by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite knowledge that the funds were proceeds of illegal activities.

The commission further claims that between November 2022 and October 2025, the defendants controlled N1.36 billion through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd, allegedly sourced from unlawful means.

Several counts relate to the acquisition of high-end properties in Abuja and other locations, which the EFCC says were purchased to conceal the origin and ownership of illicit funds. The properties reportedly include:

• A luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, for N500 million
• A property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, for N700 million
• A property in Jabi District for N850 million
• Real estate on Rhine Street, Maitama, for N430 million
• Properties in Asokoro District for N210 million and N325 million
• A property at Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, for N120 million

The EFCC also alleges that Malami used N952 million in unlawful proceeds to acquire multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023, often through proxies and corporate entities to hide ownership. Hajia Bashir Asabe, reportedly an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, is said to have facilitated these transactions and disguised ownership on Malami’s behalf.

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