The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, his wife Asabe Bashir, and son Abdulaziz before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 16-count money laundering charge. The re-arraignment followed the reassignment of the case to the new trial judge after Justice Obiora Egwuatu recused himself for personal reasons .
EFCC counsel Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) successfully applied to correct typographical errors in counts 11 and 12, reducing the figures from N325 billion to N325 million and N120 billion to N120 million respectively . All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges . The case was formerly before Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted the defendants N500 million bail each on January 7, 2026 . The defendants also face separate terrorism-related charges filed by the DSS .
Key Points:
The re-arraignment allows the trial to proceed before the new judge after multiple reassignments.
Correction of billion to million figures clarifies the actual alleged sums involved.
Malami, wife, and son maintain innocence, while EFCC pursues prosecution.
This signals the anti-graft agency’s determination to pursue high-profile corruption cases.
The timing, with trial now set before Justice Abdulmalik, moves case forward.
CONCLUSION
EFCC re-arraigns ex-AGF Malami, wife, son on amended 16-count money laundering charge; defendants plead not guilty.
SOURCES
Vanguard, TheCable, NAN
TAGS
Abubakar Malami, EFCC, Money Laundering, Re-Arraignment, N8.7bn, Justice Abdulmalik, Corruption, NB Digest
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