Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday issued a stern warning to counsel appearing in the trial of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and two other defendants, cautioning them against any attempt to approach him for favour.
The trial judge stressed that his disposition to fairness and restraint should not be misconstrued as weakness or an invitation to improper conduct.
“I want to admonish and warn counsel and litigants to understand the type of court they are appearing before. All judges are not the same. Irrespective of my familiarity with you, when I am dealing with any case, do not approach me. The best service you can render to your clients is to engage the best lawyers in this country. The law cannot be bent as far as this court is concerned.
“I therefore warn every litigant and lawyer appearing before this court to understand how this court operates. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Any attempt to tarnish my name will be resisted and dealt with decisively. I warned, I warned, and I warned,” Justice Nwite declared.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Malami alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged money laundering offences amounting to ₦8,713,923,759.49 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo).
The defendants were arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, retaining, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count One of the charge alleges that Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, between July 2022 and June 2025 in Abuja, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the sum of ₦1,014,848,500.00 (One Billion, Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) domiciled in a Sterling Bank Plc account, when they reasonably ought to have known that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activities.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
Count Five alleges that Abubakar Malami, SAN, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, sometime in September 2024 in Abuja, conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of an aggregate sum of ₦1,049,173,926.13 (One Billion, Forty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Six Naira, Thirteen Kobo), paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024.
The alleged offence is contrary to Section 21 of the Act and punishable under Sections 18(2)(a) and 18(3) thereof.
Count Six further alleges that Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, between November 2022 and October 2025, indirectly took control of an aggregate sum of ₦1,362,887,872.96 (One Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty-Two Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Two Naira, Ninety-Six Kobo) paid through the Union Bank Plc savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, while knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activities.
The charge is said to be contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Act.
Earlier in the proceedings, Justice Nwite granted bail to Malami, his wife, and his son in the sum of ₦500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira) each, with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties are required to depose to affidavits of means to the satisfaction of the court.
