The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 27 re-arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, his wife Asabe Bashir, and their son Abdulaziz before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on alleged money laundering charges.
The matter came up for hearing following its reassignment to Justice Abdulmalik. When the case was called, EFCC counsel Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that it was scheduled for the defendants’ re-arraignment.
Okutepa also applied for corrections to the sums listed in Counts 11 and 12, requesting that they be amended to N325 million instead of N325 billion for Count 11, and N120 million instead of N120 billion for Count 12. The defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not oppose the application, and the court granted the oral request.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge brought against them by the anti-graft agency, which borders on alleged money laundering.
The case was previously handled by Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as a vacation judge during the Christmas and New Year break. Following the vacation, the Chief Judge reassigned the matter to Justice Egwuatu, who later recused himself before the case was subsequently reassigned to Justice Abdulmalik.
Malami, his wife, and their son were initially arraigned on December 30, 2025, under charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025.
At the time, Malami and his son were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, while Asabe was remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre. They were later granted bail on January 7 in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
