The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, has extended the detention of Abubakar Malami, immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and one of his wives, Asabe Bashir (also known as Hajia Asabe Bashir). The trio will remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre until January 7, 2026, when the court is scheduled to rule on their bail applications.

Their continued detention follows their arraignment on December 30, 2025, on a 16-count criminal charge bordering on money laundering. All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their arraignment, Justice Nwite had ordered their remand in prison custody pending the hearing and determination of their bail application. By Friday, January 2, 2026, they had already spent three nights at the Correctional Centre, and with the bail ruling set for January 7, their stay could extend to at least eight days if their bail application is eventually successful. This period is separate from the time they had spent in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prior to their arraignment; Mr. Malami spent 22 nights in EFCC custody from December 8, while his wife and son spent approximately a week, from December 23.

During the bail hearing on Friday, January 2, 2026, the defence counsel, led by Chief Joseph Daudu (SAN), argued for their release on liberal bail terms, emphasizing that the alleged offences are bailable and urged the judge to consider Mr. Malami’s status as a former AGF. Daudu stated that granting bail would enable his clients to adequately defend themselves and noted that the EFCC had previously granted them administrative bail. Conversely, the EFCC’s lawyer, Emmanuel Iheanacho (SAN), opposed the bail application, asserting that the defendants were capable of interfering with witnesses and evidence. The prosecution also suggested that keeping the defendants in custody would ensure their safety from Kebbi residents who might harbor resentment over the alleged offences.

The anti-graft agency accuses the defendants of money laundering involving between N8.1 billion and N8.7 billion of alleged illegitimately acquired assets. The charges specifically detail a conspiracy to disguise the origin of funds, acquire property indirectly, and retain sums known to be proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022. The alleged offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, a period encompassing Malami’s eight years as AGF during the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. EFCC has reportedly traced over N200 billion worth of assets, including a university, hotel, and residential houses, to Mr. Malami across Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi.

Specific allegations include Mr. Malami and his son procuring Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1 billion and another N600 million between July 2022 and June 2025. They are also accused of using Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, a firm where Malami’s wife, Ms. Bashir, is an employee, to conceal N500 million for a luxury duplex in Abuja in November 2022. Furthermore, the trio allegedly conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of an aggregate sum of over N1.049 billion paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd between November 2022 and September 2024. Another count accuses them of indirectly taking control of N1.362 billion paid through Meethaq Hotels Ltd’s savings account in Union Bank Plc. The charges also list the concealment of N700 million for a property at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja; N850 million for Plot 683, Jabi District, Abuja; the acquisition of No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, for N430 million in February 2018; and the concealment of N210 million for No. 3130, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro, Abuja, in the same month. Additional alleged concealments include N325 million for No. 1241B, Asokoro District, between March and June 2021, and N120 million for No. 27 Efab Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja, between November 2015 and January 2016. The funds were allegedly structured to disguise their illicit origin and avoid regulatory scrutiny, with some retained as cash collateral for bank facilities.

Following Friday’s arguments, Justice Nwite stated his inability to deliver an immediate ruling due to the court’s workload, consequently adjourning the case to January 7, 2026, for a decision on the bail application. The defendants will remain in custody until that date.