Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, alongside his son and a co-defendant, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to allegations of money laundering and subsequently applied for bail before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Mr. Malami; his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami; and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd., a firm linked to the former minister, were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The defendants, represented by Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, entered pleas of not guilty to all the counts.

Following the plea, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, applied for a trial date to enable the prosecution present its evidence. He also sought an adjournment to respond to formal bail applications filed on behalf of the defendants.

“In view of the non-guilty plea of the defendants, may we apply for a trial date,” the EFCC counsel said.

“I know we received applications for bail, and we will be seeking your Lordship’s indulgence for a date to respond. We got the application yesterday around 3 p.m., and we will be asking for a date to respond,” he added.

In response, Mr. Daudu submitted that although a formal application for bail had already been filed, he was entitled to make an oral application for bail on behalf of his clients. He cited the 1995 Supreme Court decision in Abiola v. Federal Republic of Nigeria in support of his argument.

After listening to submissions from both senior advocates, Justice Nwite stood down the matter for a ruling on the bail application.

The EFCC, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, listed Mr. Malami, Ms. Asabe, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants, respectively.

According to the charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants carried out various suspicious financial transactions and attempted to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through multiple bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi States.

The EFCC further alleged that the offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, a period that includes the eight years during which Mr. Malami served as Attorney-General of the Federation under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The commission accused Mr. Malami, his son, and Ms. Asabe of conspiring to disguise the origin of funds, acquire property indirectly, and retain sums they allegedly knew to be proceeds of unlawful activity, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.