Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court on Wednesday warned lawyers and litigants that any attempt to influence his decisions in the ongoing trial of Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, would be resisted.
Malami, his son Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Asabe Bashir, who is an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering totaling ₦8.7 billion.
Addressing the courtroom, Justice Nwite said, “I want to admonish and warn both counsel and litigants that they should know the type of courts they are appearing before.
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“All judges are not the same. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”
He urged legal practitioners to represent their clients without trying to manipulate or interfere with court proceedings.
“Any attempt to pry my will will be resisted and dealt with. I warn, I warn, and I warn,” he added.
The judge also expressed concern about the handling of the defendants’ passports, describing them as potential contraband and warning that the court may take them into custody if necessary.
Justice Nwite in his ruling on the bail application filed by Malami and his co-defendants,ordered that the two sureties must own landed properties in Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa districts of Abuja.
The documents for these properties are to be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court, and the sureties must also depose to affidavits of means.
Malami is required to deposit his travel documents with the court and is prohibited from leaving the country without its express permission.
The court granted bail to Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and his wife Hajia Asabe Bashir, each in the sum of ₦500 million.
Justice Nwite ordered that each of the former AGF’s sureties submit two recent passport photographs to the court.
Malami is to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
The same conditions were applied to his son and wife.
The EFCC had filed a 16-count charge against Malami, his son, and wife.
In count one, the agency alleged: “Between July 2022 and June 2025 in Abuja, you Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of ₦1,014,848,500 in a Sterling Bank Plc account, when you reasonably ought to have known the sum constituted proceeds of unlawful activities, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, punishable under Section 18(3).”
Count five alleges: “In September 2024, in Abuja, you Abubakar Malami, SAN, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Asabe Bashir conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of ₦1,049,173,926.13 paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024, contrary to Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, punishable under Sections 18(2)(a) and 18(3).”
Count six alleges: “Between November 2022 and October 2025, you Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami indirectly took control of ₦1,362,887,872.96 paid through the Union Bank Plc savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, when you reasonably ought to have known the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Justice Nwite has fixed February 17, 2026, for the commencement of trial in the matter.
