News Investigators/ The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the remand of Abubakar Malami, SAN; his wife, Asabe Bashir and son, Abdulaziz, in correctional centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.
Mr Malami is the immediate-past Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minster of Justice.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik made the order after the trio were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged N8.7 billion money laundering offences.
While Mr Malami and Abdulaziz were ordered to be taken to Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, the judge directed that Asabe be remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State.
Earlier in the proceeding, the EFCC’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defendants’ re-arraignment.
“The matter is coming before your lordship this morning for the very first time. I will be applying for the plea of the defendants to be taken,” he said.
Okutepa equally applied that the sums listed in Counts 11 and 12 be corrected to read N325 million instead of N325 billion for Count 11, and N120 million instead of N120 billion for Count 12.
And after it was not opposed by the defence lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, Justice Abdulmalik granted the oral application by Okutepa.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts preferred against them by the anti-graft agency in the money laundering charge.
Okutepa then applied for a trial date after the defendants’ plea had been taken.
However, Daudu drew the attention of the court to the Jan. 7 bail granted by Justice Emeka Nwite of a sister court and perfected by Mr Malami.
He urged the court to adopt the same bail conditions on the ground that the Federal High Court is one in Nigeria, and in the interest of justice.
Responding, Mr Okutepa confirmed Daudu’s statement.
“It is true the defendants were granted bail before your learner brother, Justice Nwite.
“While I concede that Federal High Court is one, it is a different coram and your lordship has the discretion to either adopt the terms of bail granted there by his lordship or not to subject to the decision of the court,” he said.
According to him, on that basis, we won’t be arguing further other than for your lordship to say that they should appear for their trial.
The lawyer then listed the terms of the earlier bail granted by Justice Nwite.
“I understand the defendants met the conditions of that bail but it can be transmitted to this court so that this court be in charge of it,” he said.
But Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in her decision, held that the court was not bound by the decision of the former court since the case began afresh (de novo).
“I hold different views; when a matter starts afresh, other proceedings in the other court are terminated,” she declared.
Attempts by Daudu to move an oral bail application was rejected by the judge.
“My lord, can we apply for an oral application for bail,” Daudu said.
The judge said considering the allegations preferred against the defendants, a formal bail application should be filed.
The judge, therefore, directed that a date for trial and hearing of the bail application should be taken by parties.
But Mr Daudu expressed concern that a date for commencemt of trial would be difficult because Malami and Abdulaziz were still in the custody of Department of State Services (DSS) and he was yet to have access to them.
Justice Abdulmalik then directed the prosecution lawyer to ensure that the defence counsel have access to their clients.
Mr Okutepa explained that the defendants were no longer in their custody and they do not have control over the sister agency.
Delivering her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that Mr Malami and Abdulaziz be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre while Asabe be taken to Suleja facility.
The judge adjourned the case until March 6 for commencement of trial and hearing of the defendants’ bail applications.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the anti-graft agency is accusing the ex-AGF, his wife and son of laundering billions of naira to purchase choice property in Abuja and other parts of the courtry while Mr Malami served as Minister of Justice.
NAN recalls that the case was formerly before Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as vacation judge during the Christmas/New Year break.
The ex-AGF, his wife and son were earlier arraigned, on Dec. 30, 2025, before Justice Nwite in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025.
While Mr Malami and son were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, Asabe was remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre before they were admitted to N500 million bail each, on Jan. 7, with two sureties each in the like sum, which they perfected.
NAN
