BREAKING: Malami To Stay In Kuje Prison VIP Cell Refurbished By Abba Kyari Over Alleged N8.7Billion Money Laundering

Kyari, alongside his brothers and four others, is facing charges bordering on drug trafficking, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.

Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (SAN), will stay at the Segregation Unit designated for VIPs at Kuje Correctional Centre, sources told SaharaReporters.

The cell was reportedly refurbished by Abba Kyari, the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police and former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), who has been accused of alleged ties to Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, alias Hushpuppi, a convicted international fraudster.

Kyari, alongside his brothers and four others, is facing charges bordering on drug trafficking, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.

“Malami will stay at the Segregation Unit reserved for VIPs at Kuje prison. He will stay in a cell refurbished by Abba Kyari,” a prison source said.

Earlier on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Malami alongside his fourth wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The defendants face a 16-count charge of conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to ₦8,713,923,759.49, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

At the commencement of proceedings, prosecuting counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, stated that the arraignment was to enable the defendants take their pleas. Defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection. All three defendants pleaded not guilty.

According to the EFCC, Malami and his son allegedly used corporate entities and bank accounts to conceal funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. In one instance, between July 2022 and June 2025, they allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal ₦1,014,848,500 lodged in a Sterling Bank account.

Further charges include allegedly conspiring with his wife in September 2024 to disguise the origin of ₦1,049,173,926.13 paid through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024. The anti-graft agency also accused Malami and his son of indirectly taking control of ₦1,362,887,872.96 paid through a Union Bank savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited between November 2022 and October 2025, knowing or reasonably expecting that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.

Following the pleas, Iheanacho informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed to trial but noted that the defence had filed a bail application the previous day. Daudu requested the court grant bail orally, arguing that the offences were bailable. The prosecution opposed the request, stressing that bail applications must be supported by affidavit evidence to avoid ambushing the case.

Justice Nwite ruled that the prosecution must have adequate time to respond and ordered that Malami, his wife, and son be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre. The court adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.