Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a 16-count money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Malami’s co-defendants, his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami and his fourth wife, Bashir Asabe, also entered not guilty pleas to all counts when the charges were read in court. The defendants appeared before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The EFCC alleges that the trio conspired over several years to conceal, retain, and disguise the proceeds of unlawful activities, involving billions of naira. The offences reportedly included using corporate accounts and bank transfers to launder funds, retaining cash as collateral for loans, and acquiring high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, and other locations.
The commission also claims that some of the alleged offences occurred while Malami served as Attorney-General, contravening the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
