- Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, have been ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife, Asabe Bashir, has been sent to the Suleja Correctional Centre.
- The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, has adjourned the alleged terrorism trial of the former AGF and his son until March 10, 2026, to allow the prosecution more time to review the case files.
- Despite previously being granted bail by another judge, the court ruled that the reassignment of the case necessitated fresh bail applications, leading to the immediate detention of the defendants.
The legal battle surrounding former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, took a sharp turn on Tuesday as he and his family members were led away to prison.
Eko Hot Blog reports that following a session at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the remand of the former minister and his son at Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife was remanded at the Suleja facility.
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This follows the family’s re-arraignment on a 16-count charge of money laundering and a separate, ongoing investigation into alleged terrorism.
The day’s proceedings were marked by a shift in the prosecution’s strategy.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo, requested an adjournment for the terrorism trial, explaining that the file had only recently been transferred to his department from the Department of State Services (DSS).
While the defense team, led by Adedayo Adedeji, did not block the request, they voiced strong concerns over the lack of diligent prosecution, urging the court to consider striking out the charges if the trial does not commence by the next adjourned date of March 10, 2026.
Simultaneously, the EFCC’s money laundering case against Malami, his wife, and his son reached a critical junction.
Although the defendants had previously secured bail under a different judge in January, Justice Abdulmalik ruled that those legal proceedings had been effectively terminated once the case was reassigned.
Consequently, she rejected the argument that the previous bail conditions should still apply, insisting instead on fresh applications.
The family pleaded not guilty to all counts, which involve complex financial allegations, but they must now wait behind bars until their new bail requests are heard.
This high-profile remand has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political and legal circles, marking a significant moment of accountability for a former top government official.
Malami, who served as the nation’s chief law officer for eight years, now finds himself on the other side of the dock in a trial that encompasses both financial crimes and national security concerns.
As the March 10 date approaches, all eyes will be on the Federal High Court to see if the prosecution is ready to open its case or if the defense will succeed in its bid for a dismissal based on procedural delays.
