Former AGF Malami Pleads Not Guilty to EFCC Money Laundering Charges

Former AGF Malami Pleads Not Guilty to EFCC Money Laundering Charges
EFCC alleged concealment of over ₦8.7 billion through companies, banks.
Court adjourned case as prosecution prepared multiple witnesses.

Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Malami appeared alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, before Justice Emeka Nwite. All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the 16 count charge brought against them by the anti graft agency.

According to court documents, the EFCC accused the defendants of conspiring to conceal, retain and indirectly acquire proceeds of unlawful activities through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities and real estate transactions valued at over ₦8.7 billion.

The charge, marked FHC ABJ CR 700 2025, alleged that the offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, mainly in Abuja, while Malami served as Nigeria’s chief law officer.

The prosecution alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal ₦1.014 billion kept in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025. The EFCC also claimed that another ₦600.01 million was concealed in the same account between September 2020 and February 2021.

In another count, the commission accused the defendants of retaining ₦600 million as cash collateral for a ₦500 million loan granted by Sterling Bank Plc to Rayhaan Hotels Limited, allegedly knowing that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

The EFCC further alleged that between November 2022 and October 2025, the defendants indirectly controlled ₦1.36 billion paid through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, which it said represented illicit funds.

The commission stated that the alleged actions violated provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended and the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.

Former AGF Malami Pleads Not Guilty to EFCC Money Laundering Charges EFCC alleged concealment of over ₦8.7 billion through companies, banks — Former AGF Malami Pleads Not Guilty to EFCC Money Laundering Charges
EFCC alleged concealment of over ₦8.7 billion through companies, banks

The prosecution team, led by Chief J.S. Okutepa, SAN, listed investigators, bank officials, bureau de change operators and company representatives as witnesses in the case. The matter was adjourned for trial.