The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has commenced the hearing of the bail application for former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. The former Minister of Justice, alongside his son Abdulaziz Malami and his wife Bashir Asabe, is seeking release from custody pending the determination of the case against them.
The trio is standing trial on a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre on Tuesday, December 29, 2025, after pleading not guilty to the charges involving approximately ₦8.7 billion.
Justice Emeka Nwite had adjourned the matter to today, January 2, 2026, to allow the defense team to formally argue their written bail application. During the arraignment, the judge rejected an oral bail request, insisting on due process and proper filing of applications.
As proceedings resumed on Friday, the defense counsel is expected to persuade the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms. The EFCC, on the other hand, is expected to oppose the application, citing the severity of the alleged offences and the risk of flight or interference with the case.
The case has attracted significant public interest due to Malami’s status as the immediate past Chief Law Officer of the federation. Security has been beefed up around the court premises as the hearing progresses.
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