Quick Summary:
Federal High Court in Abuja admits nine documentary exhibits against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, his wife, and son in an ongoing N8.7 billion money laundering case.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted nine documentary exhibits against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the documents on Monday during the resumed hearing of the fraud-related trial involving the former Chief Law Officer of the Federation and members of his family.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the defendants on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8,713,923,759.49, contrary to the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
EFCC Presents Bank Documents As Evidence
The exhibits, all documentary in nature, were tendered through the fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, the witness told the court that he received correspondence from the EFCC requesting documents relating to several accounts linked to the defendants and associated companies.
He confirmed that the bank provided both soft and hard copies of documents relating to accounts belonging to the defendants and companies such as Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, Nashab Limited, Golden Age Global Ventures, and Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
Exhibits D1–D9 Admitted Despite Defence Objection
Upon application by Okutepa, the court admitted the documents, dated between July 19, 2024, and March 12, 2026, as Exhibits D1 to D9, despite an initial objection by defence counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, who noted that “the dates are almost all in March.”
Under further examination by prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the witness detailed transactions contained in the exhibits.
He identified Exhibit D1 as containing account opening documents and statements for accounts belonging to Abubakar Malami and A.A. Malami & Co, including both naira and dollar accounts.
According to him, one of the accounts covered transactions from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2023, and remained active between 2015 and 2023.
Billions In Transactions Traced
The witness revealed that total credits into one of the accounts stood at N383,637,221.55 between 2016 and 2023, while total credits from 2012 to 2015 amounted to N560,506,465.12.
On debits, N384,322,120.85 was recorded between 2016 and 2023, and N571,891,174.08 between 2012 and 2015.
He further disclosed several large inflows, including:
- N194,791,608.00 from New Horizons Limited on November 11, 2020
- N622,500,000.00 from Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited on June 24, 2022
- N250 million each from Rayhaan Hotels Limited on July 1 and July 7, 2022
- N500 million from Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited on December 22, 2022
The witness said the accounts recorded numerous transactions running into billions of naira.
Defence Seeks Adjournment
Following the testimony, defence counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, requested an adjournment to allow time to study the nine exhibits and prepare for cross-examination.
Justice Abdulmalik granted the request and adjourned the case to May 13, 2026, for continuation of trial.