Former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, his son, and an associate have rejected allegations of laundering billions of naira, entering not-guilty pleas in a high-profile 16-count case that has captured national attention.
The defendants appeared composed, asserting their innocence as proceedings commenced.
The charges, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), claim the trio orchestrated schemes to hide illicit funds through complex networks of bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value real estate acquisitions.
“We will contest these claims vigorously and expect justice to prevail,” a spokesperson for the defendants said.
The Federal High Court in Abuja presided over the arraignment on Tuesday, formally bringing the accused, Malami’s son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe, before the bench.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences occurred between 2015 and 2025, during Malami’s tenure as the country’s Attorney General.
The commission’s charge sheet asserts that over N8.7 billion was allegedly moved through multiple channels, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, with transactions spanning July 2022 to June 2025 and earlier deposits between September 2020 and February 2021.
Properties allegedly bought with these funds include a luxury duplex in Maitama, a Garki residence, and real estate in Jabi and Asokoro districts.
Hajia Bashir Asabe, identified as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, is accused of helping to conceal ownership of several properties acquired through proxies and corporate entities.
The EFCC maintains that these acts violate the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC has summoned a broad spectrum of witnesses, ranging from bank officials to company representatives, to corroborate its claims.
Court proceedings are expected to continue with the defence team preparing detailed counterarguments, signalling a potentially prolonged and closely watched trial.