Alleged cash laundering: Ex-AGF Malami, spouse, son remanded in Kuje jail

The Federal Excessive Courtroom sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, remanded the rapid previous Legal professional-Normal of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in jail custody.

The court docket ordered that Malami, who’s dealing with a 16-count cash laundering cost alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and an confederate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, ought to stay in Kuje jail until January 2, 2026, when their formal request for bail can be thought-about.

Trial Justice Emeka Nwike issued the remand order after he rejected an oral bail software the defendants made via their workforce of legal professionals led by Mr J. B. Daudu, SAN.

The court docket careworn the necessity to enable the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC), which opposed the discharge of the defendants on bail, to file its counter-affidavit.

The defendants, who had been alleged to have laundered public funds totalling about N9 billion, had been mentioned to have acted in breach of Part 15(2)(d) of the Cash Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended and punishable beneath Part 15(3).

The previous minister was accused of utilizing stolen funds to accumulate selection properties in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and different cities.

In response to the anti-graft company, the defendants had, between July 2022 and June 2025, used a agency – Metropolitan Auto Tech Restricted – to hide over N1.01bn in a Sterling {Bank account}.

They had been additional accused of utilizing the identical firm to syphon about N600 million between September 2020 and February 2021.

Likewise, the EFCC informed the court docket that the defendants had, in March 2021, retained N600m as money collateral for a N500m mortgage {that a} agency – Rayhaan Resorts Ltd – obtained from Sterling {Bank}, regardless of allegedly understanding that the funds had been proceeds of crime.

A few of the counts within the cost towards them, learn: “That you simply Abubakar Malami SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between July 2022 and June, 2025 in Abuja inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Courtroom did procure Metropolitan Auto Tech Restricted to hide the illegal origin of the overall sum of N1, 014, 848, 500.00 (One Billion, Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand, 5 Hundred Naira) within the Sterling {Bank} Plc Account No. 0079182387 while you fairly should have recognized that the mentioned sum shaped proceeds of illegal actions and also you thereby dedicated an offence opposite to Part 21(c) of the Cash Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable beneath Part 18(3) of the identical Act.

“That you simply, Abubakar Malami SAN, while being the Legal professional-Normal of the Federation, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, between September 2020 and February 2021 in Abuja inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Courtroom, did procure Metropolitan Auto Tech Restricted to hide the illegal origin of the overall sum of N600,013,460.4 within the Sterling {Bank} Plc Account No. 0079182387 while you fairly should have recognized that the mentioned sum shaped proceeds of illegal actions, and also you thereby dedicated an offence opposite to Part 18(c) of the Cash Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012 and punishable beneath Part 15(3) of the identical Act.

“That you simply, Abubakar Malami SAN, while being the Legal professional-Normal of the Federation, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, someday in March, 2021, in Abuja, inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Courtroom, did retain the overall sum of N600,000,000.00 in Metropolitan Auto Tech Restricted as money collateral for a mortgage of N500,000,000.00 granted to RAYHAAN HOTELS LTD by Sterling {Bank} Plc while you fairly should have recognized that the mentioned money collateral of N600,000,000.00 was the proceeds of illegal actions, and also you thereby dedicated an offence opposite to Part 18(c) of the Cash Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended, punishable beneath Part 15(3) of the identical Act.

“That you simply Abubakar Malami SAN while being the Legal professional-Normal of the Federation, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe an worker of Rahamaniyya Properties Restricted someday in November, 2022 in Abuja inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Courtroom did not directly disguise the illegal origin of the mixture sum of N500,000,000.00 paid to Efab Properties Ltd paid for buy of property often known as luxurious duplex at Amazon road, Plot No. 3011 inside Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN while you fairly should have recognized that the mentioned N500million shaped proceed of illegal exercise and also you thereby dedicated an offence opposite to part 18(2) (a) and punishable beneath part 18(3) of the Cash Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

Relatedly, the EFCC has arraigned Yakubu Adamu, Bauchi state commissioner for finance, over alleged N5.79 billion cash laundering.

Adamu, a former department supervisor of Polaris {Bank} in Bauchi, was introduced earlier than Emeka Nwite, presiding choose of the federal excessive court docket in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday.

He was arraigned alongside Ayab Agro Merchandise and Freight Firm Restricted on a six-count cost bordering on cash laundering, opposite to Part 21(a) of the Cash Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

On the graduation of proceedings, Samuel Chime, prosecution counsel, informed the court docket that the matter was for arraignment and requested that the cost be learn to the defendant.

In response to the cost, Adamu allegedly conspired with Ishaku Mohammed Aliyu, managing director of I.S. Makayye Funding Assets Restricted, and Muntaka Mohammed Duguri, each mentioned to be at giant, to launder N4.65 billion between June and December 2023.

The EFCC alleged that the funds had been launched by Polaris {Bank} beneath the pretext of financing the availability of bikes to the Bauchi state authorities via Emmanuel Asomugha Normal Enterprises, noting that the bikes had been by no means provided.

One of many counts additionally alleged that Adamu acquired and transferred N976 million paid into the account of I.S. Makayye Funding Assets Restricted, understanding that the cash was proceeds of illegal exercise linked to the diversion of the {bank} facility.

Adamu pleaded not responsible to all the fees.

Following his plea, the prosecution utilized for his remand pending the dedication of his bail software.

“In view of the defendant’s not responsible plea, we respectfully apply that he be remanded in custody pending the listening to and dedication of the bail software,” Chime mentioned.

Nonetheless, Gordy Uche, counsel to the defendant, utilized for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution.

After listening to arguments from each side, the choose adjourned the matter to January 2, 2025, for ruling on the bail software and ordered that Adamu be remanded in EFCC custody.

The anti-graft company mentioned investigations confirmed that Emmanuel Asomugha Normal Enterprises secured a N4.65 billion mortgage from Polaris {Bank} to execute a bike provide contract allegedly assured by the Bauchi state authorities.

The EFCC mentioned though the {bank} was informed the bikes had been provided, investigations revealed that no supply was made earlier than the funds had been launched.

In his assertion to investigators, Emmanuel Asomugha reportedly mentioned he acquired the funds via Adamu and Sa’idu Abubakar, a former accountant-general of Bauchi state, including that he was instructed to switch the cash to a number of accounts.