Abuja – January 7, 2026: Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abdulaziz Malami, bail in the sum of ₦500 million, with similar bail conditions imposed on his wife and son.
According to the ruling, each defendant is to provide two sureties in like sum, with the sureties required to own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory. The court further ordered that all defendants must submit their travel documents to the court and must not travel outside the country without prior court approval.
Justice Nwite directed that the property documents submitted by the sureties be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, while the sureties are also required to depose to an affidavit of means. Additionally, the defendants and their sureties are to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registry.
Pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions, Malami was ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The court fixed February 17, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Malami, his wife, and son are facing a 16-count charge of money laundering filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on alleged financial transactions totaling approximately ₦9 billion.
The former minister has remained in EFCC custody since December 8, 2025, after failing to meet administrative bail conditions set by the anti-graft agency. On December 18, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory High Court upheld his continued detention, with Justice Babangida Hassan ruling that the detention was lawful under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Justice Hassan dismissed Malami’s bail application at the time, stating that granting it would amount to the court sitting as an appellate court over a decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
