Witnesses Testify In Malami, Wife, Son’s Corruption Trial

Two prosecution witnesses of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja how millions of naira were paid into the accounts of the companies linked with the alleged N8.7 billion money laundering charge against a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN.

Malawi, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abdul-aziz Abubakar Malami, are facing trial over alleged fraud before the court.

They are standing trial before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on 16 counts of money laundering involving N8. 7b.

The prosecution had, at the last adjourned date, opened its case against the defendants by calling its first witness (PW1), David Ajoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank.

When the trial resumed yesterday, the prosecution counsel, Mr Jubrin Okutepa (SAN), called two witnesses who gave graphic details of how millions of naira were paid into the accounts of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan, Agro Allied Ltd, and Khadimiya for Justice and Development Initiative.

During the trial, Monday, the 2nd prosecution witness (PW2), Simon Daniel Kwayil, a compliance officer with Union Bank, Area 3, Garki, Abuja, told the court how in December 2025, his bank received a letter from the EFCC requesting for the banks documents including account opening, statement of account and certificate of compliance with respect to account No: 0179011105 belonging to Meethaq Hotels Limited.

Kwayil said that, in response to the EFCC, Union Bank forwarded the aforementioned documents to the commission on December 23, 2025.

The said documents were tendered and admitted in evidence and marked as exhibit B series after the defence counsel reserved its objection to their admissibility.

He told the court that the sole signatory to the account is the 2nd defendant (Hajia Bashir Asabe), as per the Board’s resolution of Meethaq Hotels Limited.

According to the witness, between February 2, 2024 and April 3, 2024, there were instant transfers totalling N48m from the Meethaq Hotels Limited account in favour of Abubakar Malami and A.A. Malami and Co.

He stated that Meethaq Hotels Limited’s statement of account showed inflows and outflows totalling millions of naira.

Specifically, the banker disclosed that between December 5, 2022, and April 14, 2023, the hotel received inflows of over N99m into its account.

While under cross-examination by defence counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu SAN, the witness stated that no money was transferred into the accounts from any government agency.

He further added that he did not know the purpose of the transactions.

In his own evidence, the 3rd prosecution witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, Central Business District, Abuja, said sometimes in 2025, his bank received a letter from the EFCC requesting certain documents, including account openings, statement of account of Agro Allied Limited and Khadimiya for Justice and Development Initiative.

“We sent the documents as requested by the EFCC and attached cover-up letters. For the Agro Allied Limited, the cover-up letter was dated March 9, 2026, while that of Khadimiya for Justice Initiatives was dated February 5, 2026,” the witness said.

The matter has been further adjourned to April 20 for the continuation of the trial.