In relation to the criminal charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and two others, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, asserted on Wednesday that some individuals who are unknown to him have subtly attempted to persuade him to compromise his adjudicatory duties.
On December 30, 2025, Malami (SAN), his son Abdulaziz, and his wife Asabe Bashir—who works for Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd., a business connected to the former AGF—were arraigned by the EFCC for suspected N9 billion fraud.
Malami worked for former President Muhammadu Buhari for eight years as AGF.
Malami and his co-defendants were specifically charged with attempting to hide the illegal origins of properties valued at billions of naira in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi.
Additionally, Malami and the other defendants were accused by the EFCC of conspiring at different points in time to conceal, maintain, and disguise N9 billion in earnings from illegal activities.
According to the commission, some of the alleged offenses were committed while Malami was the Federation’s Attorney-General, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Malami, his son, and Asabe had been detained in Kuje jail since December 30. On Wednesday, the court granted them bail.
Furthermore, Malami and his son were accused of violating Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 by “procuring Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N1.14 billion, in the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed proceeds of unlawful activities” between July 2022 and June 2025.
But soon after the former Minister of Justice was granted bail, Justice Nwite shocked the court by claiming that some people he didn’t know were trying to entice him with bribes in exchange for a favorable ruling.
Justice Nwite, who appeared shocked, cautioned that no one should approach him in the future in an attempt to persuade him to lower the bar.
“I want to remind both parties and litigants to be aware of the type of court they are coming before before I wrap up this proceeding.
Judges are not all created equal. Please do not approach me when I am working on any case, even when I am getting to know you.
Choosing the greatest attorney is the best thing you can do for your client. This court believes that the law cannot be distorted.
Therefore, I want to caution all of you litigants and attorneys who are appearing before this court to be aware of how this court operates.
“Please remember that being forewarned means being prepared. I will not tolerate any attempt at leniency. Justice Nwite said, “I warn, I warn, and I warn.
In the meantime, Malami, his son, and his wife each received N500 million in bail from Justice Nwite.
The Federal Government is prosecuting the defendants on charges of embezzling more over N9 billion while in office.
Malami must provide two sureties who would stand up for him in the same amount as stipulated in the bail requirement.
In his decision regarding the bail request, Justice Nwite mandated that the two sureties have landed properties in Gwarimpa, Asokoro, or Maitama.
The deputy chief registrar of the court was instructed by the court to verify the property documents, and the sureties were also required to deposit an affidavit of means.
Malami must also give the court his travel documentation and refrain from leaving the country without the court’s specific consent.
Furthermore, the court ordered the former AGF and his sureties to turn up their two most current passport photos.
Malami has been placed under detention at Kuje jail until the requirements of his bail are met.
The start of the trial has been scheduled for February 17 by Justice Nwite.
A court has ordered the temporary forfeiture of 57 properties connected to Malami worth N213 billion.
In the meantime, 57 properties connected to former Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami and two of his sons, Abdulaziz and Abiru-Rahman Malami, have been temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, Justice Emeka Nwite issued the decision on Tuesday in response to an ex-parte plea submitted by Ekele Iheanacho, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer.
According to Oyewale, the properties, which are estimated to be worth N213.2 billion and are situated in the states of Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna, are thought to represent the results of illegal activity.
In the decision, Justice Nwite ordered the Federal Government to temporarily surrender the properties listed in the motion’s schedule.
The judge was cited as saying, “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honorable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule 1 below which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
According to Oyewale, the judge also mandated that the EFCC publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper so that any interested parties might provide justification for not permanently forfeiting the properties within 14 days.
In order to provide a compliance report, the case was postponed until January 27, 2026.
Universities, hotels, schools, gas stations, warehouses, residential structures, plazas, stores, factories, and vast tracts of land spread throughout the four states and the Federal Capital Territory are among the assets listed.
“Luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011 within Cadastral Zone, A06 Mai—tama; File No: An enhancement 11352, which was purchased in December 2022 at N500, 000, 000.00 (value after enhancement at N5,950,000,000),” he stated. Built in December 2018 for N7,000,000,000, this two-winged, multi-story structure is located at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Cadastral Zone, A03, Abuja (previously Harmonia Hotels Limited), FCT.
“Plot 683, Jabi District, Caldastral Zone B04, consists of a five-story building (now Luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd., Jabi with 53 rooms/suites) that was acquired in September 2020 at carcass level for N850,000,000, plus an additional N300,000,000 to take possession (value after completion N8,400,000,000). Purchased in January 2021 for N360,000,000, Property No. 3130, which includes terraces, is located in Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja.
“Property No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Limited, Maitama with 15 rooms), which was bought in February 2018 at N430,000,000 (current value after rehabilitation is N12,950,000,000).”
Others include “Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent) Asokoro District, which was acquired for N325,000,000 in July 2021.” Shop No. C82 Cityscape — Shariff Plaza, Plot 739 Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse Il, FCT, Abuja, was acquired for N120,000,000 in March 2024.
No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano was acquired for N300,000,000 in December 2022. Purchased in July 2019, Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa, GRA, Kano, with no specified purchase price. There is a plaza, laundry facilities, business restrooms, and nearby warehouse tanks. 100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi, Jega Road, were acquired for N100,000,000 in 2020.
Birnin Kebbi, located on Jega Road, was acquired in 2020 for N100,000,00.
In 2023, a four-bedroom bungalow in Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, was acquired for N101,000,000. Shops Nos. A36, B3 Vegas Mall, Wuse 2, Abuja, were acquired for N158,000,000 in July 2023. 2022 saw the purchase of No. 26, Babbi Drive, Bua Estate, Abuja for N136,000,000. No. 27, Efab Estates Avenue, 59 Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, was bought for N120,000,000 in January 2016. Boys’ quarters with four bedrooms and two rooms at No. 10B, Doka Crescent Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, were acquired for N40,000,000.00 in January 2018. Purchased in June 2018 for N85,000,000, Plot No. 13, Ipent 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja.
In October 2018, N150,000,000 was paid for a bedroom duplex and boys’ quarters located at No. 12 Yalinga Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja. at July 2020, N50,000,000 was paid for two warehouse stores, B40 and B46, at Wuse Market, Abuja. Between February and May 2017, twin homes at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Cadastral Zone B01, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, were acquired for N250,000,000. Properties sold by the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage that Khadimiyya purchased for the Justice & Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, specifically
Among the other assets included in the schedule are nine three-bedroom bungalows, three two-bedroom bungalows, and 5.4 hectares of land that were bought for N187,000,000 between February 2023 and September 2023.
Due to allegations of N8.7 billion money laundering, Malami, his wife, Bashir Abe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently on trial before Justice Nwite.
