Get ready for a bombshell! Nigeria’s former top lawyer, Abubakar Malami, the ex-Attorney-General of the Federation, is in deep trouble. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dropped a staggering 16-count charge, accusing him, his son, and an associate of a massive money laundering operation involving a jaw-dropping N8.7 billion! This isn’t just a minor slip-up; we’re talking about alleged illicit activities spanning almost a decade, involving shadowy accounts and flashy property deals right under our noses.
- Former AGF Malami faces 16 charges for alleged money laundering.
- Total alleged amount involved is a staggering N8.7 billion.
- Charges include illicit property acquisition and suspicious financial transactions.
- Alleged offenses occurred between 2015 and 2025, during Malami’s tenure.
- EFCC is ready to present a strong case with detailed evidence.
Malami’s Reign Under the Microscope
Sources say the EFCC has been working tirelessly, and all signs point to a dramatic courtroom showdown. Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is expected to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court in Abuja. This isn’t just about one man; the charges also implicate his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and a close associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe. They’re accused of conspiring to hide, disguise, and indirectly acquire proceeds from what the EFCC calls unlawful activities. Imagine, all this happening while Malami was the nation’s chief law officer – quite the twist!
The N8.7 Billion Web of Deceit
The charges, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, paint a grim picture. Between 2015 and 2025, the alleged scheme unfolded, primarily in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The EFCC claims that Malami and his son used a company called Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to launder a colossal N1.014 billion through a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025. Not just that, another N600.01 million was allegedly deposited between September 2020 and February 2021. It’s like a financial maze designed to confuse and conceal.
Suspicious Deals and Luxury Assets
But the alleged deceit didn’t stop at bank accounts. The defendants are also accused of holding onto N600 million as cash collateral for a loan secured by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd from Sterling Bank Plc. The EFCC insists they knew these funds were from dubious sources. Furthermore, between November 2022 and October 2025, the trio supposedly controlled a staggering N1.36 billion that flowed through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd. This money, according to investigators, was illicit in origin. It’s clear the EFCC believes there’s a pattern of trying to make dirty money look clean.
Property Empire Built on Shady Funds?
The allegations extend to a lavish property portfolio. The charge sheet details the alleged acquisition of high-end properties across Abuja, with the intention of disguising the source and true ownership of the funds. We’re talking about payments like N500 million for a fancy duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama; N700 million for a property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki; and a cool N850 million for a place in Jabi District. It doesn’t end there! More properties allegedly bought include those on Rhine Street, Maitama (N430 million), in Asokoro District (N210 million and N325 million), and even in Efab Estate, Gwarimpa (N120 million). This seems like a lot of real estate for one family and an associate!
Proxies and Corporate Fronts: The Art of Obscurity
The EFCC further claims that Malami used N952 million of these questionable proceeds to snap up multiple properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi between 2018 and 2023. To make things even more complicated, it’s alleged that he used proxies and corporate fronts – essentially, other people and companies – to hide his ownership. Hajia Bashir Asabe, identified as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, allegedly played a crucial role in making these property deals happen and keeping Malami’s name out of it. It’s a sophisticated game of hiding assets, according to the commission.
Legal Battles Ahead
These alleged actions, the EFCC states, are clear violations of Nigeria’s Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The anti-graft agency is not playing around, listing investigators, bank insiders, bureau de change operators, and company representatives as potential witnesses to bolster their case. The legal fireworks are expected to be intense, and Nigerians will be watching closely to see how this unfolds.
Important Note: All allegations are currently subject to legal proceedings, and the individuals named are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.