Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to bail in the sum of N500 million over alleged money laundering offences filed against him by the Federal Government.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Nwite ordered that Malami must produce two sureties who will stand for him in the like sum of N500m each. The court further ruled that the sureties must own landed properties in high-value Abuja districts of Maitama, Asokoro or Gwarimpa.
The judge directed that the title documents of the properties be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, while the sureties are also required to swear to affidavits of means.
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As part of the stringent bail conditions, Malami was ordered to deposit his international passport and other travelling documents with the court and must not travel outside Nigeria without express permission. He and his sureties were also directed to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court.
However, pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, Justice Nwite ordered that the former Minister of Justice be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
At the time of filing this report, business associates, friends and sympathisers of the former AGF were seen moving round Abuja in efforts to perfect the bail conditions and secure his release.
Justice Nwite also fixed February 17 for the commencement of trial in the corruption case.
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The court extended the same bail conditions to Malami’s son, Abdulaziz Malami, as well as Hajia Asabe Bashir, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
The trio is facing a 16-count money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Malami’s wife is also listed among the defendants in the charge.
The case marks another high-profile corruption trial involving a former top government official, drawing national attention as proceedings move into the trial phase.