Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has warned counsel involved in the trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and two others to refrain from approaching him for any favour.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Justice Nwite issued the warning on Wednesday, cautioning that his leniency should not be taken for granted.
“I want to admonish and warn counsels and litigants that they should know the type of court they are appearing before. All judges are not the same. Irrespective of my familiarity with you, when I am dealing with any case, do not approach me. The best you can do for your clients is to get the best lawyers in this country,” the judge said.
“The law cannot be bent as far as this court is concerned. So, I want to warn each and every litigant and lawyer appearing before this court that they should understand the way this court works. Please, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Any attempt to tarnish my name will be resisted and dealt with. I warned, I warned, and I warned!”
The defendants were arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, between July 2022 and June 2025, in Abuja, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the sum of ₦1,014,848,500.00 (One Billion, Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) in a Sterling Bank Plc account, when you reasonably ought to have known that the sum constituted proceeds of unlawful activities, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Count five reads: “That you, Abubakar Malami, SAN, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, sometime in September 2024, in Abuja, conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of ₦1,049,173,926.13 (One Billion, Forty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Six Naira, Thirteen Kobo) paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024, contrary to Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Sections 18(2)(a) and 18(3) of the same Act.”
Count six reads: “That you, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, between November 2022 and October 2025, indirectly took control of the aggregate sum of ₦1,362,887,872.96 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty-Two Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Two Naira, Ninety-Six Kobo) paid through the Union Bank Plc savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, when you reasonably ought to have known that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Earlier, the judge granted Malami, his wife, and his son bail in the sum of ₦500,000,000 each, with two sureties in like sum, who shall depose to an affidavit of means.
“Bail is granted to each of the defendants/applicants in the sum of ₦500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira) each, with two sureties in like sum, who shall depose to an affidavit of means.
“The two sureties must be landed property owners in either Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa within the jurisdiction of the court, and the documents must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of this Honourable Court and also deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of this Honourable Court
“The defendants/applicants shall deposit their international passports with the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of this Honourable court and shall not travel outside the country without the permission of the court,” he ruled.
Justice Nwite added: “The defendants/applicants, together with the sureties, shall each deposit two copies of their recent passport photographs with the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of this Honourable court.
“The residences of the sureties shall be verified or confirmed by the registrar of the court. The defendants/applicants shall continue to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre until the perfection of their bail conditions.”
He further adjourned the matter until February 17, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
