Nigerian govt files fresh charges against ex-AGF Malami, son
The Federal Government has filed fresh money laundering charges against a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged financial transactions exceeding ₦1 billion.
The 16-count charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, with the Federal Republic of Nigeria listed as the complainant. Also named as a defendant in the suit is Hajia Bashir Asabe.
According to court documents, the defendants are accused of handling, transferring and concealing funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Investigators allegedly traced a total of ₦1,014,848,500 to a Sterling Bank account connected to the transactions. The prosecution claimed the funds were laundered through corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, which was allegedly used to disguise the origin and movement of the money.
The charge sheet further alleged that several properties were acquired between 2015 and 2025 in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states with illicit funds. Some of the properties are reportedly located in highbrow areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa and Jabi, with certain transactions said to have occurred while Malami was still in office.
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One of the counts accused the defendants of using Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025 to conceal the unlawful source of more than ₦1.014 billion. Prosecutors also alleged that bank accounts, hotel businesses and real estate firms were used to retain, move and disguise large sums of money, including payments for hotels, plazas, duplexes and landed properties.
The prosecution maintained that the defendants “reasonably ought to have known” that the funds were proceeds of illegal activities.
Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari and had faced several corruption allegations during his tenure, all of which he had previously denied.
In a related matter, the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier granted Malami interim bail, ordering him to surrender his passport and comply with existing bail conditions, including providing two sureties. The case has been adjourned to January 5, 2026, for further proceedings.
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