- Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami
By SCM REPORTER
NIGERIA’S former top lawman Abubakar Malami is tonight behind bars in a notorious high-security prison after being slapped with a massive N500 million (£450,000) bail bill.
The former Attorney General—once the most powerful legal figure in the country—was hauled before a federal judge in Abuja to face a staggering 16-count money laundering charge.
Prosecutors claim Malami was involved in a “dirty money” scheme totalling an eye-watering N9 billion (roughly £8.2 million).
In a dramatic twist, Malami isn’t the only one in the dock. His son, Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Asabe Bashir, an associate, are also caught up in the sprawling corruption probe led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mr Justice Emeka Nwite ruled today that while the ex-minister can taste freedom before his trial, the price of his liberty is steep.
Under the strict bail conditions, Malami must:
Fork out N500 million in bail bonds.
Find two wealthy sureties who own luxury property in the elite Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarimpa districts.
Hand over his passport and travel documents to the court.
Provide recent passport photos for the police files.
Despite the bail ruling, the former legal chief was driven away in a prison van to the grim Kuje Prison.
He will remain held there until his legal team can “perfect” the bail conditions and prove his sureties have the cash and the mansions required.
The case marks a stunning fall from grace for a man who spent years advising the Nigerian government on law and order.
The court has fixed February 17 for the start of the trial, where Malami and his family members will fight to clear their names.
