The Federal Government has filed new money laundering charges against former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged financial transactions exceeding N1 billion.
The 16-count charge was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja and marked FHC ABJ CR 700 2025.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant, while Bashir Asabe is named as a co-defendant.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants are accused of handling, transferring and concealing funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Investigators allegedly traced a total of N1,014,848,500 to a Sterling Bank account linked to the transactions.
Prosecutors allege that the funds were laundered through corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, which was allegedly used to conceal the source and movement of the money.
It is further alleged that between 2015 and 2025, several properties were acquired in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states using illicit funds.
The properties reportedly include homes in Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa and Jabi, with some transactions said to have occurred while Malami was in office.
One of the counts alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of over N1.014 billion, an offence said to contravene the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
The charge sheet also alleges the use of bank accounts, hotel businesses and real estate firms to retain or disguise large sums of money, including payments for hotels, plazas, duplexes and landed properties.
Prosecutors argue that the defendants “reasonably ought to have known” the funds were proceeds of illegal activities.
Mr Malami served as Attorney General of the Federation from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He has previously denied corruption allegations linked to his time in office.
In a related matter, the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier granted Malami interim bail in a separate case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court ordered him to surrender his passport and meet bail conditions, including providing two sureties.
The case was adjourned until January 5, 2026.
Meanwhile, Malami has been linked to 41 properties across Kebbi, Kano and Abuja, with a combined estimated value of N212.89 billion.
According to documents obtained by the newspaper, the EFCC conducted searches at his homes and offices in Abuja and Kebbi State on December 17 as part of ongoing investigations.
The document lists 30 properties in Kebbi State valued at about N162 billion, including university sites, factories, hotels, schools, media houses, residential buildings and commercial facilities.
Properties linked to his sons were also listed.
In Kano State, properties valued at about N16 billion were listed, including hotels, a mosque, a gym and a residential property.
In the Federal Capital Territory, properties valued at about N34.6 billion were listed, including hotels in Maitama and Jabi, a duplex in Maitama and other residential buildings.
The document did not state when the valuations were carried out, who conducted them, or whether the properties are directly owned by Malami or held through associates or companies.
Malami has alleged that EFCC operatives carried out “coordinated raids” on his properties without notice, describing the action as intimidation and retaliation.
“These actions amount to intimidation, retaliation and a threat to the rule of law,” he said in a statement issued by his media aide.
The EFCC denied the allegation, saying the operation was a lawful search conducted as part of an ongoing investigation.
“It is in furtherance of our ongoing investigation. It was not a raid; it was a search,” the commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said.
The EFCC also said Malami was granted administrative bail on November 28 but failed to meet the conditions and did not return on the agreed date.
Malami is a founding member of the All Progressives Congress and recently defected to the African Democratic Congress.
He has declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Kebbi State.
