The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, has scheduled Wednesday, January Seven, Two Thousand And Twenty Six, to deliver a ruling on the bail applications filed by Abubakar Malami, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, alongside his wife and son.
Okay News reports that the ruling date was fixed by Justice Emeka Nwite after lawyers representing both parties formally adopted their written submissions and presented oral arguments before the court.
Malami, who served as Nigeria’s chief law officer during the administration of former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, is standing trial alongside his wife, Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, in a case brought by the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria’s leading anti corruption agency.
Court documents show that the matter, filed under charge number FHC slash ABJ slash CR slash Seven Hundred slash Two Thousand And Twenty Five, lists the former minister as the first defendant, his wife as the second defendant, and his son as the third defendant.
The Economic And Financial Crimes Commission alleges that the defendants were involved in a series of suspicious financial transactions designed to conceal the source of large sums of money believed to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
According to the prosecution, these transactions allegedly involved the use of multiple bank accounts and property acquisitions spread across Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of government, Kano, a major commercial city in northern Nigeria, and Kebbi State, located in north western Nigeria.
The alleged offences are said to have occurred between Two Thousand And Fifteen and Two Thousand And Twenty Five, a period that covers Malami’s years in office as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The anti graft agency further claimed that Malami, his wife, and son conspired to disguise the origin of the funds, indirectly acquire assets, and retain money they allegedly knew to be proceeds of illegal activities.
The charges are said to fall under provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition And Prevention Act of Two Thousand And Eleven, as amended, and the Money Laundering Prohibition And Prevention Act of Two Thousand And Twenty Two.
The court is expected to decide whether the defendants will be granted bail pending the continuation of their trial when it delivers its ruling next week.
