Former justice minister Abubakar Malami pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges on Tuesday.
Mr Malami, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, and Bashir Asabe, an employee of a firm linked to the former attorney general of the federation, Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, all pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts while being arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
The EFCC had, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, named Mr Malami, Mr Asabe, and the ex-AGF’s son as first, second, and third defendants, respectively.
The anti-graft agency, in charge, accused the defendants of carrying out various suspicious transactions and attempting to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi.
They allegedly committed the offences between 2015 and 2025, a period that includes the eight years Malami served as the AGF during the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The commission alleged that Mr Malami, his son, and Mr Asabe conspired to disguise the origin of funds, acquire property indirectly, and retain sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
