Breaking: Court Remands Ex-Minister of Justice, Malami, Family Members in Kuje Prison Over Alleged money Theft 

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.

The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, also directed that Malami’s co-defendants, his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe, be remanded in the same facility.

The remand order followed arguments by counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu (SAN), and the prosecution team led by Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).

Malami and the two others are standing trial on a 16-count charge of money laundering brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired at various times to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to several billions of naira.

The charge sheet alleges that the offences spanned several years and involved the use of companies and multiple bank accounts to launder funds.

The commission further accused the defendants of retaining large sums of cash as collateral for loans and acquiring high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.

The EFCC also alleged that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, actions it said contravened the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to a later date for the hearing of the bail applications.