Court Remands Former AGF Malami, Wife, and Son in Kuje Prison

In a high-profile legal development on Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the immediate remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order following the defendants’ arraignment on a 16-count money laundering charge. Alongside the former minister, the court also remanded his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Malami Jr.

The family will remain in custody pending the hearing and determination of their formal bail applications.

The Allegations: Billions in “Unlawful” Funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the trio for allegedly conspiring to conceal and disguise billions of naira derived from “unlawful activities.”

According to the charge sheet, the EFCC claims the defendants:

• Laundered Funds: Used multiple companies and private bank accounts to funnel illicit money.

• Property Acquisition: Purchased high-value real estate across Abuja, Kano, and other strategic locations.

• Loan Collateral: Retained large sums of cash to serve as collateral for various loans.

Notably, the commission alleges that Malami committed several of these offenses while serving as the nation’s chief law officer. These actions, if proven, constitute a direct breach of both the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

The Court Proceedings

The remand order followed intense arguments between the legal heavyweights. Joseph Daudu (SAN), leading the defense team, pushed for the defendants’ release, while prosecution counsel Ekele Iheneacho (SAN) maintained that the gravity of the charges required continued custody.

After listening to both sides, Justice Nwite ruled that the defendants be moved to the Kuje facility until the court can rule on their eligibility for bail.

Abubakar Malami served as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023, making him one of the longest-serving cabinet members in recent Nigerian history.