Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in the sum of N500 million as he awaits trial over alleged money laundering charges instituted by the federal government.
As part of the bail terms, Malami is required to provide two sureties who will each enter into a bond of the same amount. In a ruling delivered on Wednesday on the bail applications filed by Malami and two co-defendants, Justice Nwite directed that the sureties must own landed properties located in Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa.
The court further ordered that the title documents of the properties be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar. In addition, the sureties are to swear to affidavits of means to confirm their financial capacity.
Malami was also instructed to surrender his international passport and other travel documents to the court and is barred from travelling خارج the country without prior approval of the court. He and his sureties are equally required to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court.
Pending the fulfillment of these bail conditions, the former Attorney General has been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. As of the time of filing this report, associates, friends, and sympathizers were reportedly making efforts to perfect his bail.
Justice Nwite has fixed February 17 for the commencement of trial in the matter.
The court extended the same bail conditions to Malami’s son, Abdulaziz Malami, as well as Hajia Asabe Bashir, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting the matter and has filed a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering against Malami, his son, and his wife.
