By Muhammad Mamman
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, 7 January 2025, issued a stern warning to legal counsel appearing in the high-profile trial of former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and two of his family members. The judge cautioned that his familiarity with the parties should not be mistaken for leniency.
“I want to admonish and warn counsels and litigants that they should know the type of court they are appearing before. All judges are not the same. Irrespective of my familiarity with you, when I am dealing with any case, do not approach me,” Justice Nwite said. “The best you can do for your clients is to get the best lawyers in this country. The law cannot be bent as far as this court is concerned. Any attempt to tarnish my name will be resisted and dealt with. I warned, I warned, and I warned!”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami over alleged money laundering offences amounting to ₦8.71 billion. The defendants face a 16-count charge, including conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Some of the notable charges include:
• Count One: Malami and his son allegedly procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal ₦1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025.
• Count Five: The trio allegedly conspired to disguise over ₦1.04 billion paid through Meethaq Hotels’ Union Bank account between November 2022 and September 2024.
• Count Six: Malami and his son are accused of indirectly controlling ₦1.36 billion through the same Meethaq Hotels account between November 2022 and October 2025.
Earlier in the proceedings, Justice Nwite granted bail to Malami, his wife, and son, each set at ₦500 million with two sureties of like sum, who must depose to an affidavit of means.
The judge’s warning underscores the high-stakes nature of the trial, signalling that attempts to influence the court or circumvent legal processes will not be tolerated.
This case continues to draw national attention due to the prominence of the accused and the massive sums involved, highlighting ongoing efforts to hold public officials accountable for alleged financial crimes in Nigeria.
