The Federal Government has filed 16 counts of alleged money laundering amounting to ₦1.014 billion against a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Also named as a co-defendant is Hajia Bashir Asabe.
According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that Malami, his son and others were involved in laundering and concealing ₦1,014,848,500.00 traced to transactions through a commercial bank account. The government claims the funds were disguised and moved through corporate and property transactions to conceal their alleged unlawful origin.
In the 16-count charge, the Federal Government alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, within Abuja and the court’s jurisdiction, the defendants procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the source of the funds. Prosecutors further alleged that the company was used as a front to disguise the origin and movement of the money, actions said to amount to money laundering under Nigerian law.
The alleged offences are said to contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as sections of the earlier Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.
In detailing the allegations, the charge sheet states, among other things:
“That you Abubakar Malami SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between July 2022 and June, 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did procure Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N1, 014, 848, 500.00 (One Billion, Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) in the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed proceeds of unlawful activities and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between September 2020 and February, 2021in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did procure Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N600,013,460.4 in the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed proceeds of unlawful activitiesand you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.”
The charges further allege that Malami retained ₦600 million as cash collateral for a ₦500 million loan, used proceeds of alleged unlawful activities in acquiring multiple high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi, and conspired with others to disguise the source of funds paid for luxury properties.
One of the counts reads:
“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited sometime in November, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did indirectly disguise the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N500,000,000.00 paid to Efab Properties Ltd paid for purchase of property known as luxury duplex at Amazon street, Plot No. 3011 within Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN when you reasonably ought to have known that the said N500million formed proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2) (a) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Other counts accuse the defendants of conspiring to conceal funds allegedly used to acquire properties in Maitama, Asokoro, Jabi, Gwarimpa and other locations, as well as using hotel and corporate accounts to allegedly launder proceeds of unlawful activities over several years.
Abubakar Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
What you should know
The charges against Abubakar Malami and his co-defendants form part of ongoing anti-money laundering efforts by the Federal Government targeting alleged misuse of public office and concealment of illicit funds.
Prosecutors claim the alleged transactions span several years and involve corporate fronts, bank accounts and multiple property acquisitions.
The case, now before the Federal High Court in Abuja, is expected to test the enforcement of Nigeria’s money laundering laws against high-profile former public officials.
