The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja. The trio faces a 16-count charge of money laundering involving a total of N8.7 billion.

The charges, filed on December 23, 2025, allege that the defendants engaged in conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Specific counts include the concealment of over N1 billion in a Sterling Bank account and laundering of more than N1.3 billion through Union Bank Plc accounts linked to Meethaq Hotels Limited.

At the arraignment, prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, requested that the charges be read to the defendants. Defence counsel, J. B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection. The court subsequently read the charges and recorded the defendants’ pleas.

Following the arraignment, the defence made an oral application for bail, citing legal precedent, while the prosecution opposed the request, insisting that the court must consider affidavit evidence and the gravity of the alleged offences. Justice Nwite ruled that the prosecution be given adequate time to respond to the bail application. Consequently, the defendants were remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, and the matter was adjourned to January 2, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.