From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), bail in the sum of ₦500 million in his alleged money laundering trial, as the court fixed February 17, 2026, for the commencement of hearing in the case.
Malami is standing trial alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦8.7 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed the charges against the three defendants.
They had pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were arraigned on December 29, 2025. Following their plea, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered their remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the ruling on their bail applications, which was fixed for January 7, 2026.
Ruling on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite held that Malami must provide two sureties who each own landed property in the Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory.
He ordered that the title documents of the properties be deposited with the court and verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar, while the sureties are also required to depose to affidavits of means.
As part of the bail conditions, the former Attorney-General was directed to deposit his international passport and other travelling documents with the court and was barred from travelling outside the country without prior approval of the court.
Malami and his sureties were also ordered to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court.
Despite the grant of bail, Justice Nwite ordered that Malami be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The same bail terms were extended to Malami’s son, Abdulaziz Malami, and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, Hajia Asabe Bashir, who are co-defendants in the case.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to February 17, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
