By Muhammad Mamman
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), alongside his wife and son, in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the commencement of their trial.
The decision came during a dramatic court session on Tuesday, where the trio were arraigned on multiple charges reportedly linked to alleged abuse of office and financial misconduct during Malami’s tenure as the nation’s chief law officer. The charges were formally read before the defendants, who all pleaded not guilty.
After listening to arguments from both prosecution and defence teams, the presiding judge ruled that the former AGF, his spouse and son be held in Kuje Prison until the court hears their bail applications.
The prosecution team insisted that remanding the defendants was necessary to ensure their availability for trial, while the defence counsel urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the defendants were responsible members of society who posed no flight risk.
The court, however, reserved its decision on bail, setting a date for the hearing.
Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023 and was a key figure in several high-level legal and political matters during the Buhari administration.
Details of the charges and subsequent proceedings are expected to unfold in the coming days as the trial begins.
