A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and a co-defendant at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, gave the order on Tuesday after declining to grant the defendants bail on oral application by their counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).
Justice Nwite held that although the court has the discretion to grant bail, it would be contrary to the interest of justice to do so without hearing from the prosecution, which had not responded to the bail application earlier filed by the defence.
“I have listened to the submissions of learned counsel on both sides and examined the relevant laws. It is not in dispute that an application for bail has been filed and duly served on the prosecution,” the judge said.
He noted that granting bail at that stage, without the prosecution’s response, would amount to an ambush and a breach of the prosecution’s right to fair hearing.
“This court must ensure that the interest of justice is met. Granting bail without hearing the prosecution will violate the principle of fair hearing,” Justice Nwite added.
Consequently, the court ordered that Malami, his son and the co-defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till January 2 for the hearing of the bail application.
The defendants are standing trial on charges of alleged money laundering preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the EFCC listed Malami as the first defendant, alongside Hajia Bashir Asabe and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami as second and third defendants respectively.
The anti-graft agency had accused the defendants of involvement in financial transactions allegedly linked to proceeds of unlawful activities.
The case has attracted public attention following earlier disclosures by the EFCC linking the former justice minister to dozens of properties allegedly worth hundreds of billions of naira across Kano, the Federal Capital Territory and Kebbi State.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges at their arraignment.
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