A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abdulaziz Malami (SAN), alongside his wife and son, in the sum of ₦500 million each, under strict conditions.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered the ruling on Wednesday, ordered that each of the three defendants must provide two sureties in the same amount. The sureties are required to own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa areas of Abuja.
The court further directed that all travel documents belonging to Malami, his wife and son be surrendered to the court, and that they must not travel outside Nigeria without prior court approval.
Justice Nwite stated that the property documents submitted by the sureties would be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, while the sureties are also required to swear to an affidavit of means. Additionally, the defendants and their sureties must submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registry.
Despite the bail approval, the court ordered that Malami be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The court has fixed February 17 for the commencement of trial in the case.
Malami is facing a 16-count charge of money laundering filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside his wife and son. The charges reportedly involve alleged financial transactions totaling about ₦9 billion.
It would be recalled that on December 18, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory High Court upheld Malami’s continued detention by the EFCC after he failed to meet the commission’s administrative bail conditions. He has remained in EFCC custody since December 8.
In dismissing Malami’s earlier bail application, Justice Babangida Hassan ruled that his detention was lawful under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and Section 35 of the Constitution. The judge held that granting bail would amount to sitting as an appellate court over a decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction, which the court lacked the power to do.
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