A Nigerian court has granted bail to former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, along with his wife and son, who are facing multiple money laundering charges. This decision has garnered public attention due to Malami’s prominent role in Nigerian politics.
Malami, who is 58 years old, was a key figure in the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023. He has been incarcerated since December 2023, when he was charged with 16 counts of money laundering and abuse of office.
In a recent court appearance, Malami pleaded not guilty to all charges. He has characterized his arrest as being politically motivated.
Abubakar Malami is married to Nana Hadiza, the daughter of former President Buhari. Following his legal troubles, he has switched political allegiance from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition African Democratic Congress, which is considered a major challenger to the APC in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
He is among various ministers from the Buhari administration who have faced allegations of corruption, including Hadi Sirika, the former aviation minister.
During Wednesday’s court proceedings, Judge Emeka Nwite informed those present that the charges against the Malami family were bailable offenses. The bail was set at 500 million naira (approximately £260,000 or $350,000) for each defendant.
The bail conditions require the defendants to provide two guarantors who hold property in specified areas of Abuja and to surrender their travel documents to the court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detailed allegations against Malami, stating that he misused his governmental position to divert public funds for personal property acquisitions in various Nigerian cities, including the capital, Abuja.
The case has been adjourned until February 17, 2025, as legal proceedings continue.
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Interesting article, definitely worth taking the time to read.