The Nigerian Government has filed new money laundering charges against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged financial transactions exceeding N1 billion
The 16-count charge, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant, with Hajia Bashir Asabe named as a co-defendant.
Court documents allege that the defendants handled, transferred, and concealed funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. Investigators reportedly traced N1,014,848,500 to a Sterling Bank account linked to the transactions.
The prosecution claims the money was laundered through corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, allegedly used to obscure the source and movement of the funds. Between 2015 and 2025, the defendants are said to have acquired several properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states with illicit funds. These include luxury homes in high-end areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, and Jabi, with some purchases allegedly made while Malami was serving as Attorney-General.
One count alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the origin of over N1.014 billion, an offence reportedly in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The charge sheet also details the alleged use of bank accounts, hotel businesses, and real estate firms to retain, move, or disguise large sums of money, including payments for hotels, plazas, duplexes, and landed properties. Prosecutors argue that the defendants “reasonably ought to have known” that the funds were derived from illegal activities.
Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari and has faced repeated corruption allegations during his tenure, which he has consistently denied.
In a related development, the Federal High Court in Abuja had previously granted Malami interim bail in a separate EFCC case, requiring him to surrender his passport and provide two sureties. The current money laundering case has been adjourned to January 5, 2026, for further proceedings.
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