By Joy Yesufu
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abdulaziz Malami, his wife and son bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with stringent conditions.
Ruling on Wednesday, the court ordered that each of the defendants must produce two sureties in like sum, with the sureties required to own landed property in Abuja’s highbrow districts of Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa.
Justice Nwite further directed that the defendants submit their international passports and other travel documents to the court and refrain from travelling out of the country without prior court approval.
The court ordered that all property documents tendered by the sureties be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar, while the sureties must also swear to affidavits of means. In addition, the defendants and their sureties are to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registry.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, Malami was ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The court fixed February 17 for the commencement of trial in the matter.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arraigned alongside with his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his fourth wife, Bashir Asabe on a16-count money laundering charge involving N8.7 billion.
Malami has been in EFCC custody since December 8, after reportedly failing to meet the administrative bail conditions.
Earlier, on December 18, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory High Court upheld his continued detention. Justice Babangida Hassan dismissed Malami’s application for bail, ruling that his detention was lawful under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
In his ruling, Justice Hassan held that granting bail would amount to sitting as an appellate court over the decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction, which the court lacked the power to do.
