Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday warned counsel and litigants in the ongoing money laundering trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to desist from approaching him for any form of favour.
Justice Nwite cautioned that his leniency should not be taken for granted, stressing that attempts to influence the court would be firmly resisted.
“I want to admonish and warn counsels and litigants that they should know the type of court they are appearing before. All judges are not the same,” the judge said. “Irrespective of my familiarity with you, when I am dealing with any case, do not approach me. The law cannot be bent as far as this court is concerned.”
He further warned that any attempt to tarnish his integrity would be “resisted and dealt with,” adding emphatically: “I warned, I warned, and I warned.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Malami alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged money laundering offences amounting to ₦8,713,923,759.49.
The defendants are facing a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to count one of the charge, Malami and his son allegedly procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025 to conceal the unlawful origin of ₦1,014,848,500 paid into a Sterling Bank Plc account, funds said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Count five alleges that Malami, his son, and Hajia Bashir Asabe conspired in September 2024 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.
In count six, the EFCC alleges that Malami and his son indirectly took control of ₦1,362,887,872.96 paid through a Union Bank Plc savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited between November 2022 and October 2025, knowing or reasonably ought to have known that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Earlier, Justice Nwite granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties in like sum. The judge ruled that the sureties must be landed property owners in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa within the court’s jurisdiction and must depose to affidavits of means.
He ordered that all bail documents be verified by, and deposited with, the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of the court. The defendants were also directed to deposit their international passports with the court and were barred from travelling outside Nigeria without permission.
The court further ordered the verification of the sureties’ residences and ruled that the defendants would remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre until their bail conditions are perfected.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to February 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.
