The federal government has filed fresh money laundering charges against a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.
Court documents show that the charges relate to alleged financial transactions involving more than ₦1bn (£800,000), which prosecutors say were linked to unlawful activities.
The 16-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025 was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is listed as the complainant, while a third defendant, Hajia Bashir Asabe, is also named in the case.
According to the prosecution, investigators traced a total of ₦1.014bn to a Sterling Bank account connected to the alleged transactions. The government claims the funds were handled, transferred and concealed in ways that violated Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
Prosecutors allege that some of the money was moved through corporate entities, including a company called Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, which they say was used to hide the source and movement of the funds.
Court filings further allege that between 2015 and 2025, several properties were acquired in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states using illicit funds. The properties reportedly include luxury homes in areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa and Jabi. Some of the transactions are said to have taken place while Mr Malami was serving as Attorney-General.
One of the charges alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants used a corporate entity to conceal the unlawful origin of more than ₦1.014bn, an offence under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.
The charge sheet also details the alleged use of bank accounts, hotel businesses and real estate firms to retain or disguise large sums of money, including payments linked to hotels, shopping plazas, duplexes and other properties. Prosecutors say the defendants “ought reasonably to have known” that the funds were proceeds of illegal activities.
Mr Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He has previously denied corruption allegations made against him during his time in office.
In a related matter, the Federal High Court in Abuja recently granted Mr Malami interim bail in a separate case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court ordered him to surrender his passport and meet existing bail conditions, including providing two sureties.
The case has been adjourned until 5 January 2026 for further proceedings.
