The federal government has instituted a 16-count criminal case against Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, over alleged money laundering offences.
The charges were filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Also named as defendants are Malami’s son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties .
According to the charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the government accused Malami and his son of using Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025 to “conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N1, 014, 848, 500.00” .
The prosecution further alleged that the same company was used to “conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N600, 013, 460.4 (Six Hundred Million, Thirteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty Naira, Four Kobo) in the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed proceeds of unlawful activities” .
The government said the alleged actions violate provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 .
Part of the charge reads:
“That you ABUBAKAR MALAMI SAN whilst being the Attorney General of the Federation, ABUBAKAR ABDULAZIZ MALAMI, and HAJIA BASHIR ASABE an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd sometime in November, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did indirectly disguise the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N500, 000, 000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) paid to Efab Properties Ltd paid for purchase of property known as luxury duplex at Amazon street, Plot No. 3011 within Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja in favour of ABUBAKAR MALAMI SAN when you reasonably ought to have known that the said N500, 000, 000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) formed proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2) (a) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” .
Another count alleges:
“That you ABUBAKAR MALAMI SAN, ABUBAKAR ABDULAZIZ MALAMI, and HAJIA BASHIR ASABE an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd sometimes in September 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N1, 049, 173, 926. 13 (One Billion, Forty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty-six Naira, Thirteen Kobo) paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd Jabi savings Account No. 0179011105 between November 2022 and September 2024 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act) 2022 and punishable under section 18(2) (a) and (3) of the same Act,” .
The charge sheet also accuses Malami and his son of indirectly taking control of N1, 362, 887, 872.96 through Meethaq Hotels Ltd’s Union Bank account, allegedly knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity .
In addition, Malami and Bashir Asabe are accused of concealing N700, 000, 000.00 used to acquire a property at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, as well as another N850, 000, 000.00 allegedly used to purchase property at Plot 683, Jabi District, Abuja, through Meethaq Hotels Ltd .
The federal government further disclosed that it has identified several properties valued at billions of naira, which are allegedly connected to the former attorney-general .