A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday, 7 January, 2026 granted bail totaling N1.5 billion to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, along with wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami.
Justice Nwite, who delivered the verdict granted N1 billion bail for Malami and his son, while Malami’s wife was granted N500 million bail.
The judge also ordered that each defendant provide two sureties with landed property in Abuja’s Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa districts. Title documents of the properties must be submitted for verification. Defendants are also required to surrender their travel passports and ensure their sureties provide recent passport photographs and an affidavit of means.
Justice Nwite warned that the defendants must not leave the country without permission and should remain in custody until the bail conditions are perfected. The trial has been adjourned to February 17.
Malami, who served from November 2015 to May 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, faces 16 counts of money laundering. He, his son, and wife were arraigned over alleged attempts to conceal proceeds of crime through property and business deals.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused the defendants of laundering approximately N9 billion. Between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide over N1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account.
He was also further accused of siphoning about N600 million between September 2020 and February 2021 using the same company.
