A Federal High Court in Abuja has approved N1.5 billion bail for former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, along with his wife, Asabe Bashir, and their son, Abdulaziz Malami.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite granted each of the defendants bail of N500 million in connection with an alleged N8.7 billion money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court directed that each defendant must present two sureties of equivalent value, who must own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The sureties are required to submit title documents for verification, provide two recent passport photographs, and swear an affidavit of means.
Additionally, the court ordered that the defendants surrender their travel passports and must not leave the country without court approval. The ruling also stated that they will remain in prison custody until all bail conditions are fully met.
The trial has been adjourned to February 17.
Malami, who served as Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, faces 16 counts of money laundering. His wife, Asabe, identified as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, and their son, Abdulaziz, were arraigned alongside him. The company is alleged to have been used to conceal illicit funds through property transactions.
The fulfillment of bail conditions will end Malami’s detention, which has lasted 31 days between the custody of the EFCC and the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
His wife and son have spent 16 days in custody, initially detained by the EFCC from December 23 to December 30, 2025, before being remanded alongside Malami.
The EFCC maintains the case against Malami, and observers await to see if he will face conviction despite securing bail.
