The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.
Justice Emeka Nwite also directed that Malami’s co-defendants—his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives, Bashir Asabe—be remanded at the same correctional facility.
The remand order followed submissions by counsel to the defendants, led by Joseph Daudu (SAN), and the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheneacho (SAN), who made arguments for and against the grant of bail.
Malami and his co-defendants are standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
They had earlier pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them by the court registrar. During the proceedings, the defence urged the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms, arguing that they were law-abiding citizens who would not jump bail or interfere with the trial.
The defence also maintained that Malami, a former chief law officer of the federation, would respect the judicial process. However, the prosecution opposed the bail application, citing the seriousness of the allegations and urging the court to exercise caution in granting bail.
After listening to both sides, Justice Nwite ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to a later date for ruling on the bail application.
