Court Grants Malami, Wife and Son ₦500m Bail Each Over Alleged ₦9bn Money Laundering Case
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abdulaziz Malami, alongside his wife and son, in the sum of ₦500 million each, subject to stringent conditions.
According to Channels TV, the court ruled that each defendant must present two sureties in like sum, with the sureties owning verifiable landed property in high-value areas of the Federal Capital Territory, including Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa. The court further ordered that all defendants submit their travel documents to the court and obtain prior approval before travelling outside the country.
Justice Nwite directed that the property documents provided by the sureties be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, while the sureties are also required to swear to an affidavit of means. The defendants and their sureties were additionally instructed to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registry.
Pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions, Malami was ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The court also fixed February 17 for the commencement of trial in the matter.
PUNCH Online reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a 16-count charge against Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and his wife, bordering on alleged money laundering involving about ₦9 billion.
Earlier, on December 18, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja upheld Malami’s continued detention by the EFCC after he failed to meet the bail conditions earlier set by the anti-graft agency. Malami had been in EFCC custody since December 8, following his arrest.
Justice Babangida Hassan, who dismissed Malami’s application for bail from EFCC custody, ruled that his detention was lawful under the provisions of Section 35 of the Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). He held that granting the application would amount to the court sitting as an appellate court over a decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction, which it lacked the power to do.
