The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a 16-count money laundering charge against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, Hajia Bashir Asabe, in what marks a major legal escalation against the former chief law officer.
The charge, filed on December 23, 2025, is before the Federal High Court in Abuja and alleges conspiracy, money laundering, and the concealment of proceeds of unlawful activities through corporate fronts, bank accounts, and high-value property acquisitions across several states.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly used companies, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to disguise the origin of funds amounting to over ₦1 billion, which were lodged in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025, with knowledge that the funds were suspected proceeds of unlawful conduct.
The anti-graft agency further alleged that between September 2020 and February 2021, large sums running into hundreds of millions of naira were concealed in the same account, contrary to Nigeria’s money laundering laws, and that the transactions were structured to evade detection by regulatory authorities.
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Investigators also accused the defendants of acquiring multiple high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, Kebbi and other locations, allegedly using proceeds of unlawful activities, while concealing the true ownership of the assets through proxies and associated companies.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred between 2016 and 2025, spanning Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023 and extending beyond his exit from public office, suggesting, according to the EFCC, a sustained pattern of financial misconduct.
In related investigations, the commission disclosed that it had traced dozens of properties allegedly linked to Malami and his associates, with an estimated cumulative value running into hundreds of billions of naira, spread across the Federal Capital Territory and several northern states.
The charges were brought under relevant provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which prescribe stiff penalties, including forfeiture of assets, upon conviction.
Court documents show that the defendants are yet to take their plea, as the case awaits assignment and further proceedings before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with hearing dates expected to be fixed in the coming weeks.
The case has drawn significant public attention due to Malami’s former role as Nigeria’s chief law officer, with the EFCC stating that the prosecution reflects its resolve to pursue corruption cases regardless of status, while the defendants are expected to respond through their legal representatives as the trial unfolds.
