The Federal Government has filed fresh money laundering charges against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged financial transactions running into more than ₦1 billion.
The 16-count charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accuses the defendants of handling, transferring and concealing funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant, with Hajia Bashir Asabe named as a co-defendant.
According to court documents, investigators traced a total sum of ₦1,014,848,500 to transactions linked to a Sterling Bank account. Prosecutors allege that the funds were laundered through corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, which they claim was used to disguise the origin and movement of the money.
The charge further alleges that between 2015 and 2025, the defendants acquired several properties in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states using illicit funds. Some of the properties are said to be located in high-end areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa and Jabi, with parts of the transactions allegedly carried out while Malami was still in office as Attorney-General.
One count states that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of over ₦1.014 billion, an offence said to contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Prosecutors also allege the use of bank accounts, hotel businesses and real estate firms to retain, transfer or disguise large sums of money, including payments linked to hotels, plazas, duplexes and landed properties. They contend that the defendants “reasonably ought to have known” that the funds were derived from illegal activities.
Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari and faced several corruption allegations during his tenure, which he consistently denied.
In a related matter, the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier granted Malami interim bail in a separate case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court ordered him to surrender his passport and comply with existing bail conditions, including providing two sureties. Proceedings in the case have been adjourned to January 5, 2026.