By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday opened its case against former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife, Asabe Bashir, and their son, Abdulaziz Malami, over an alleged ₦8.7 billion money laundering case.
The trial, which began before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, saw the anti-graft agency call its first prosecution witness after the judge directed the EFCC to proceed with its case.
Counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu (SAN), had attempted to draw the court’s attention to a pending bail application filed on behalf of his clients. However, Justice Abdulmalik declined the request and reminded him that she had earlier ruled that all bail applications and other motions would be considered after the testimony of the first prosecution witness.
Following the court’s directive, EFCC counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), called the first prosecution witness, David Ajoma, a banker.
Ajoma told the court that he works as a compliance officer with Sterling Bank in Abuja and has been with the bank for about three years, handling compliance requests from law enforcement agencies.
He said that on December 2, 2025, Sterling Bank received a request from the EFCC seeking details of loan facilities granted to Rayham Hotel Limited.
According to him, the bank subsequently forwarded the requested documents, including the account opening package, loan account statements and other supporting records.
The witness further testified that the loan facility granted to Rayham Hotel Limited was secured with a cash collateral provided by Metropolitan Autotech Limited.
He explained that both Metropolitan Autotech Limited and Rayham Hotel Limited maintain separate accounts with Sterling Bank, adding that the signatory to the Metropolitan Autotech account is one Hassan Aliyu.
Under cross-examination by Daudu, the witness admitted that he was not the relationship manager for either of the accounts and was therefore not familiar with the specific details or purposes of transactions into the accounts.
He also confirmed that the name of the former Attorney General, Malami, did not appear on the loan application documents presented before the court.
According to him, the only name on the loan application was Abdulaziz Malami, who signed as the Managing Director of Rayham Hotel Limited.
Ajoma further told the court that none of the transactions reviewed by the bank originated from any government account, the Federal Ministry of Justice or from Malami personally.
He also stated that based on the documents available, he could not identify any suspicious transactions linked to the accounts under review, adding that none of the transactions breached regulations issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
After the witness concluded his testimony, Daudu moved the bail application for Malami, his wife and their son.
Although the EFCC counsel, Okutepa, said the commission would not oppose the application, he urged the court to impose strict conditions that would ensure the defendants’ presence during trial.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently granted bail to Malami, his wife and son in the sum of ₦200 million each with two sureties in like sum.
The judge ordered that one of the sureties must deposit the title deed of a landed property located in either Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, with the court registrar.
She also directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court.
The court further ruled that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.
Malami, his wife and their son are facing a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦8.7 billion.
In a related development, Justice Abdulmalik had earlier, on February 27, granted Malami and Abdulaziz bail in the sum of ₦200 million each with two sureties in another case filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) involving allegations of terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
That case has since been taken over by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
