A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Attorney General of the Federation, Abdulaziz Malami, alongside his wife and son, in the sum of ₦500 million each over allegations of money laundering.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered the ruling on Wednesday, attached stringent conditions to the bail, including the provision of two sureties per defendant, each in like sum. The sureties must own verified landed property in high-value areas of the Federal Capital Territory, including Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa.
The court further ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports and barred them from travelling outside Nigeria without express permission. Property documents submitted by the sureties are to be vetted by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, and the sureties must swear to affidavits of means.
Justice Nwite also directed the defendants and their sureties to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registry.
Until the bail conditions are fully met, Malami is to remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The court fixed February 17 for the commencement of trial in the case.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Malami, his wife, and son on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering, involving alleged transactions estimated at about ₦9 billion.
Malami has been in EFCC custody since December 8, after reportedly failing to meet earlier bail terms granted by the anti-graft agency. On December 18, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory High Court upheld his continued detention.
In dismissing his previous bail application, Justice Babangida Hassan ruled that Malami’s detention was lawful under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), noting that granting bail would amount to sitting in appeal over a decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
