The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), over alleged involvement in a massive money laundering scheme running into billions of naira.
Malami is to stand trial on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering, alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
The charges, dated December 23, 2025, were brought under Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), which is punishable under Section 15(3) of the Act.
According to the charge sheet filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the former justice minister is accused of laundering about N9 billion through property acquisitions in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and other locations across the country. Investigators allege that the funds were used to purchase several high-end properties while he served in office.
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The EFCC is also seeking explanations over about 30 houses allegedly linked to Malami, with a combined estimated value of N212.8 billion, most of which were said to have been acquired during his eight-year tenure between 2015 and 2023 under the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that it may activate provisions of its Establishment Act on non-conviction-based asset forfeiture to temporarily seize some of the properties. The commission is expected to issue a 14-day notice inviting interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the EFCC is awaiting a date from the Federal High Court, Abuja, for the arraignment and commencement of trial.
The prosecution team, led by Chief Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Ekene Iheanacho (SAN), will work with no fewer than 14 other lawyers in what observers have described as one of the most high-profile corruption trials in recent times. At least 10 witnesses have already been listed and frontloaded in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The charge also alleges that a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, was used as a conduit in the movement and laundering of funds linked to the former minister.
