Court adjourns ₦8.7bn money laundering trial of former AGF Malami, family to June 23

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the alleged ₦8.7 billion money laundering trial involving former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, his wife, and son until June 23, 2026.

The case, which is being heard before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Maitama, was postponed on Friday following the absence of the lead defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

At the resumed proceedings, prosecution counsel J.S. Okutepa (SAN) told the court that the prosecution team was ready to continue with the hearing. However, he informed the court that the defence had submitted a formal application seeking an adjournment due to the unavailability of its lead counsel.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami on an amended 16-count charge bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy, procurement, concealment, and laundering of funds totaling ₦8,713,923,759.49.

According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged offences contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The defendants have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Although the prosecution did not oppose the request for adjournment, Okutepa urged the court to take note of what he described as repeated delays in the proceedings, arguing that the defence was gradually exhausting the number of adjournments permitted under the court’s guidelines.

In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik observed that the absence of a lead counsel should not necessarily prevent proceedings from continuing, particularly where other lawyers from the same legal chambers are available to represent the defendants.

The judge, however, granted the adjournment application in the interest of fair hearing, noting that the defence remained within its allowable limit for adjournment requests.

The adjournment follows earlier proceedings in which the court admitted several financial documents tendered by the prosecution as evidence. The documents, marked as Exhibits D1 to D9, were presented through a Zenith Bank compliance officer, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, who testified as the fourth prosecution witness.

During his testimony, Bata reportedly provided details of financial transactions linked to accounts allegedly associated with Malami, his son, and several companies, including Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, Nashab Limited, Golden Age Global Ventures, and Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.

The bank records admitted by the court reportedly covered transactions conducted between 2012 and 2023.

The matter is expected to resume on June 23 for continuation of trial and further cross-examination of the prosecution witness.