A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted N1.5 billion bail to the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his wife, Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz Malami.
Justice Emeka Nwite ruled on Wednesday that each of them should be granted bail of N500 million in the alleged N8.7 billion money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court said all defendants must provide two sureties each, also worth N500 million, who must own land in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa districts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The sureties must submit the title documents of their properties for verification, provide two recent passport photographs, and depose to an affidavit of means. The defendants are also required to surrender their travel passports.
The court warned that the defendants must not travel outside the country without permission and said they should remain in prison until the bail conditions are met.
The case was adjourned to February 17 for trial.
Malami, who served as Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, faces a 16-count money laundering charge. He was arraigned alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and his wife, Asabe, who was listed as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited—a company allegedly used to hide proceeds from unlawful activities through property deals.
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Meeting the bail conditions will end Malami’s detention, which has already lasted 31 days in the custody of the EFCC and the Correctional Centre in Kuje, Abuja.
The EFCC held him from December 8 to December 30, 2025, before the court transferred him to Kuje Correctional Centre after his arraignment.
His wife and son have spent 16 days in custody as of Wednesday, after being detained by the EFCC from December 23 to December 30, when they were arraigned and remanded alongside Malami.