Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has pleaded not guilty to the money laundering charge levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
Malami, who appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, along with his son and Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Asabe, an associate linked to property dealings, stated this after the anti-graft agency read out the 16-count charge brought against them.
The charges, which carry serious financial and legal implications, allege that the trio engaged in schemes to conceal, disguise, and retain proceeds from illicit activities, involving multi-billion-naira transactions and acquisitions of high-value properties.
The anti-graft agency accused Malami of using proxies and corporate entities to conceal and launder funds allegedly derived from unlawful activities during and after his tenure from 2015 to 2023.
The commission contends that multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and real estate transactions were employed to channel illicit funds, totalling over N8.7 billion.
EFCC specifically alleged that N1.014 billion was laundered through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited via a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025, with an additional N600.01 million deposited from September 2020 to February 2021.
High-value properties purportedly acquired using these proceeds include a luxury duplex in Maitama (N500 million), a Garki property (N700 million), and a Jabi residence (N850 million), among others in Abuja’s upscale districts.
Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, is alleged to have facilitated these acquisitions and helped disguise ownership.
The EFCC stated that the transactions contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
To support its case, the EFCC has listed a host of witnesses, including investigators, bank officials, bureau de change operators, and company representatives, indicating a detailed and extensive inquiry. Court proceedings are expected to continue as the legal teams prepare to present their arguments.
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