The Malami remand order sends the former attorney general and his son to Kuje Prison over alleged money laundering as the court considers bail

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, at the Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged money laundering offences.

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Justice Nwite issued the order after Abubakar Malami and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami pleaded not guilty to a 16 count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The defendants were arraigned alongside a third defendant on charges bordering on money laundering, which the commission said were committed between 2015 and 2023 during Abubakar Malami’s tenure as Nigeria’s chief law officer.

The court directed that all three defendants be remanded in Kuje pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.

Counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the charges were politically motivated and that the defendants posed no flight risk.

Prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheneacho, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, opposed the application, asking the court to allow time to respond formally to the bail request in view of what the prosecution described as the gravity of the allegations.

Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecution’s request and ordered the defendants into custody, describing the move as necessary to preserve the integrity of the judicial process.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alleges that the offences violated the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended and the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

The commission further claims that some of the alleged transactions occurred while Abubakar Malami held public office, raising what investigators described as serious concerns about abuse of office and financial impropriety.

Abubakar Malami has consistently denied the allegations and previously described the investigation as politically driven.

The case has drawn wide public attention because of Abubakar Malami’s former role as the nation’s top legal officer and the high profile nature of the accusations.