The Federal Government has filed 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 N1 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, and concealed funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. Investigators reportedly traced a total sum of N1,014,848,500 to a Sterling Bank account linked to the transactions.
The prosecution further alleged that the funds were laundered through several corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, which was allegedly used to conceal the origin and movement of the money.
According to the charge sheet, several properties were allegedly acquired between 2015 and 2025 in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states using illicit funds. The properties reportedly include luxury homes located in areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, and Jabi, with some transactions said to have occurred during Malami’s tenure as Attorney General.
One of the counts alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of over N1.014 billion, an offence said to contravene the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
Prosecutors also accused the defendants of using multiple bank accounts, hotel businesses, and real estate firms to retain, transfer, or disguise large sums of money. The alleged transactions include payments for hotels, plazas, duplexes, and other landed properties.
The prosecution maintained that the defendants “reasonably ought to have known” that the funds were proceeds of illegal activities.
Malami served as Attorney General of the Federation from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He faced several corruption allegations during his time in office, all of 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. The court ordered him to surrender his passport and comply with existing bail conditions, including providing two sureties.
The case has been adjourned until January 5, 2026, for further proceedings.
