The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted bail to the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in the sum of N1 billion.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered the ruling, also granted bail to Malami’s wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, a co-defendant in the case, in the sum of N500 million, bringing the total bail to N1.5 billion.
The court ordered that each defendant must present two sureties in like sum, who must be owners of landed property in the Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa districts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The sureties are required to submit the title documents of their properties for verification, alongside two recent passport photographs and affidavits of means.
Justice Nwite further directed that the defendants surrender their international passports and warned that they must not leave the country without prior court approval. The court emphasised that the defendants would remain in custody until all bail conditions are fully met.
The trial was adjourned until February 17, 2026, for hearing.
Malami, who served as AGF from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, faces a 16-count charge of money laundering. He was arraigned alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, who was identified as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, a company allegedly used to launder the proceeds of unlawful activities through property transactions.
Details of the case are expected to unfold as the trial progresses.
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