The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), alongside his son and one of his wives, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.

The remand order was issued on Tuesday by the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, after listening to submissions from both the prosecution and defence teams during proceedings.

Justice Nwite specifically directed that Malami, his son, Abubakar Malami, and his wife, Bashir Asabe, be taken into custody following their arraignment on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering.

The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which accused them of conspiring to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly amounting to several billions of naira.

During the court session, counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of the accused persons by granting them bail.

However, the prosecution team, led by Ekele Iheneacho (SAN), opposed the bail application and requested that the defendants be remanded in custody pending the court’s formal consideration of the bail request.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the defendants would remain in custody until their respective bail applications are heard and determined by the court.

According to the EFCC, the alleged offences were committed over several years and involved the use of multiple companies and bank accounts to launder funds obtained from unlawful activities.

“The defendants allegedly retained huge sums of cash as collateral for loans and acquired high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations,” the commission stated in the charge.

The anti-graft agency further alleged that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, actions it said were in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter to a date yet to be fixed for the hearing of the bail applications and the continuation of proceedings.