The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 27 re-arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, his wife Asabe Bashir, and son Abdulaziz, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court Abuja. This re-arraignment followed a series of judicial reassignments; the case was previously heard by Justice Emeka Nwite (who sat as a vacation judge) and then Justice Egwuatu (who later recused himself).

During the proceedings, EFCC's lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defendants’ re-arraignment. Okutepa also applied for a correction of specific sums in Counts 11 and 12, requesting they read N325 million instead of N325 billion for Count 11, and N120 million instead of N120 billion for Count 12. The defense counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not oppose this, and Justice Abdulmalik granted the oral application. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts preferred against them by the anti-graft agency.

The charges border on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, totaling N8,713,923,759.49. The EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired to launder these funds between 2015 and 2025, utilizing various bank accounts and corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited and Meethaq Hotels Limited, to conceal the source and ownership of the money. Transactions were allegedly routed through several commercial banks and structured in a manner designed to disguise their illicit origin and avoid regulatory scrutiny.

Further allegations from the anti-graft agency include the retention of substantial funds as cash collateral for bank facilities, such as approximately N600 million, which the commission claims the defendants knew or ought reasonably to have known were proceeds of unlawful activity. The EFCC also accused them of using these illicit funds to acquire high-value residential and commercial properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states, either directly or through proxies, as part of efforts to conceal beneficial ownership. These alleged offenses are said to contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and related laws.

While the ex-AGF, his wife, and son were previously arraigned before Justice Nwite on December 30 and admitted to N500 million bail each on January 7 with two sureties, the situation changed with the re-arraignment. Upon their re-arraignment before Justice Abdulmalik, the defense lawyer's prayer to adopt the previously granted bail conditions was rejected. Justice Abdulmalik firmly held that her court was not bound by the decisions made in the other court and insisted that a formal and written bail application must be filed. Consequently, she ordered that Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, while Asabe Bashir be remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre, which provides facilities for female inmates, pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications. The case has been adjourned until March 6 for the hearing of the bail applications and commencement of trial.