The Federal Government has instituted fresh money laundering charges against a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged financial transactions exceeding ₦1 billion.
The 16-count charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant. Hajia Bashir Asabe is named as a co-defendant.
Court documents allege that the defendants handled, transferred, retained, and concealed funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, in violation of Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
According to investigators, a total sum of ₦1,014,848,500 was traced to a Sterling Bank account linked to the alleged transactions. The prosecution claims the funds were laundered through corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, which was allegedly used as a front to disguise the origin and movement of the money.
The charge further alleges that between 2015 and 2025, several properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states were acquired with illicit funds. The properties reportedly include luxury residences located in high-value districts such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, and Jabi, with some of the transactions said to have taken place while Malami was in office as Attorney-General.
One of the counts alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of over ₦1.014 billion, an offence said to contravene the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The charge sheet also details the alleged use of multiple bank accounts, hotel businesses, and real estate firms to retain, move, or disguise large sums of money, including payments connected to hotels, plazas, duplexes, and landed properties.
Prosecutors contend that the defendants “reasonably ought to have known” that the funds were derived from illegal activities.
Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. During his tenure, he faced several corruption allegations, which he consistently denied.
Meanwhile, in a related matter, the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier granted Malami interim bail in a separate case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court ordered him to surrender his international passport and comply with existing bail conditions, including the provision of two sureties.
The case has been adjourned until January 5, 2026, for further proceedings.
