Former Justice Minister faces multi-billion naira fraud charges
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail in the sum of ₦500 million to the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, also extends to his wife, Aisha Malami, and his son, Abdulazeez Malami, who are co-defendants in a high-profile corruption case. The trio is facing a 14-count charge bordering on money laundering, diversion of public funds, and illegal acquisition of properties totaling over ₦12 billion.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, while delivering the ruling on the bail application, stated that the defendants are entitled to bail as the offenses are bailable under Nigerian law. However, the court imposed stringent conditions to ensure their presence throughout the trial. Each defendant must provide two sureties in like sum, who must be owners of landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with verified title documents.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had initially opposed the bail application, arguing that the defendants posed a “flight risk” due to their immense wealth and international connections. The prosecution alleged that the Malami family had already made attempts to move significant assets to offshore accounts in the United Arab Emirates and Europe. Despite these arguments, the judge ruled that the constitutional right to liberty outweighed the prosecution’s fears, provided the conditions were met.
Family members ordered to surrender international passports
As part of the bail conditions, Abubakar Malami, his wife, and his son have been ordered to surrender their international passports to the registrar of the court. They are prohibited from traveling outside the country without express judicial permission until the final determination of the case. Justice Ekwo warned that any violation of these terms would lead to the immediate revocation of their bail and their return to the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The court further directed that the defendants must report to the EFCC headquarters once every month to sign an attendance register. This measure is intended to keep the defendants under constant surveillance while they prepare their defense. The trial has been adjourned until February 24, 2026, for the commencement of a full hearing and the presentation of witnesses by the anti-graft agency.
The Malami family has maintained their innocence, with their lead counsel, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, describing the charges as “politically motivated.” The defense team argued that the former minister served the country with “distinction” and that the current allegations are part of a smear campaign by his political detractors. They expressed confidence that the judicial process would eventually vindicate the family and clear their names of all wrongdoing.
Allegations of diverted legal fees and property acquisitions
The core of the EFCC’s case against the former AGF involves the alleged diversion of legal fees recovered from international asset forfeiture cases. Specifically, the commission claims that Malami authorized the payment of billions of naira to “ghost lawyers” for services that were never rendered to the Federal Government. These funds were then allegedly routed through several shell companies linked to his son, Abdulazeez, and his wife, Aisha.
Investigators also claim to have uncovered a vast real estate empire across Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states that was acquired during Malami’s eight-year tenure as Justice Minister. The EFCC asserts that the official income of a cabinet minister could not possibly sustain such massive acquisitions. Some of the properties identified in the charge sheet include shopping malls, private schools, and luxury residential estates that have now been marked for interim forfeiture.
The trial is expected to be one of the most significant legal battles of the 2026 judicial calendar, as it involves the highest-ranking legal officer of the previous administration. Legal analysts suggest that the outcome of this case will serve as a major test for the independence of the judiciary and the effectiveness of the current administration’s anti-corruption drive. As the Malami family works to perfect their bail conditions, the nation awaits the start of the substantive trial in late February.
