Alleged N8.7bn money laundering: Court grants Malami ex-AGF, son, wife ₦500m bail each

Abubakar Malami, Nigeria’s minister of justice and attorney-general

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to Abubakar Malami, SAN, the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and one of his wives, Asabe Bashir, in the sum of ₦500 million each.

In his ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite said the decision was taken in the interest of justice, notwithstanding the seriousness of the allegations levelled against the defendants.

The trio were last week arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge ordering on alleged money laundering.

Read also: EFCC, NCoS officials clash in court over former AGF Malami

The court had subsequently fixed January 7 for ruling on their bail applications.

While opposing the bail applications, the EFCC argued that the defendants, particularly the former Attorney-General, could interfere with witnesses and obstruct the course of justice if released.

However, Justice Nwite held that the defendants were entitled to bail in the interest of justice.

As part of the bail conditions, Malami, his son and his wife are each required to produce two sureties in the sum of ₦500 million.

The sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and be owners of landed properties located in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The defendants are also required to deposit their international passports with the Deputy Registrar of the court and are prohibited from travelling outside the country without the court’s permission.

In addition, the sureties are to submit two passport photographs each to the Deputy Registrar.

The matter has been adjourned until February 17 for the commencement of trial.

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