The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Tuesday arraign a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering offences.
Malami is to be docked alongside his son, Abubakar Malami, and Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, a firm the anti-graft agency claims is linked to the former justice minister.
The defendants will appear before Justice Emeka Nwite to answer a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, money laundering, and concealment of proceeds of unlawful activity.
Alleged Offences
According to court documents filed by the EFCC, the alleged offences span between 2015 and 2025, covering the period Malami served eight years as Attorney-General under the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The commission alleged that the defendants engaged in a series of suspicious financial transactions aimed at disguising the origin of billions of naira through multiple bank accounts and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi States.
The EFCC disclosed that Malami has been under investigation at its Abuja office since December 8, 2025.
In the charge, the commission alleged that Malami, his son and Asabe “conspired to disguise the origin of funds, acquire property indirectly, and retain sums they knew were proceeds of unlawful activity,” contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
In count one, the EFCC alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal ₦1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were illicit. Count two accused them of concealing ₦600.01 million through the same company between September 2020 and February 2021.
The commission further alleged that in March 2021, the duo retained ₦600 million as cash collateral for a ₦500 million loan obtained by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd from Sterling Bank, despite knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
Several counts relate to the alleged acquisition of luxury properties in Abuja, including duplexes in Maitama, properties in Garki, Jabi, Asokoro, and Gwarimpa, allegedly purchased with illicit funds running into billions of naira through various corporate fronts.
Other counts accuse the defendants of conspiring to acquire additional properties across Abuja, Kebbi, and Kano States between 2016 and 2025 using proceeds of unlawful activity.
The EFCC said it intends to call multiple witnesses, including its officials, bank representatives, Bureau De Change operators, and financial experts. Key witnesses listed include officials of Zenith Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc, as well as individuals expected to testify on intelligence reports, petitions, and the alleged role of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd in property acquisitions linked to Malami.