Malami Pleads Not Guilty To 16-Count Money Laundering Charge

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday entered a not-guilty plea to a 16-count charge of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Also arraigned alongside him were his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his fourth wife, Bashir Asabe, both of whom also pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them by the court registrar.

The trio appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.

In the charge sheet, the EFCC accused the defendants of conspiring at different times to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly running into several billions of naira.

The Commission said the alleged acts were carried out over a number of years through the use of companies and multiple bank accounts to launder funds.

The anti-graft agency further alleged that large sums of cash were kept as collateral for loans and that the defendants acquired high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.

According to the EFCC, some of the alleged offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.