Dare Babalola
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, his wife, Asabe Bashir, and their son, Abdulaziz Malami.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties in like sum.
As part of the bail conditions, one of the sureties is to deposit title deeds of properties in highbrow Maitama or Asokoro.
The defendants have been ordered to deposit their international passports with the court.
They are to remain in the custody of the Nigerian correctional service pending perfection of their bail conditions.
The case was adjourned until March 16th for trial.
The ruling is a result of the bail application filed by the former AGF after he was re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC had re-arrianged the defendants on 27th February on a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges, after which the court adjourned until 6th March for ruling on bail application.
The defendants are in custody due to allegations of terrorism financing and illegal firearms possession.
The Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned them before the Federal High Court in Abuja, claiming Malami, as former Attorney-General, refused to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, aiding terrorism financing.
They also allegedly possessed a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm and ammunition without a license at their Kebbi State residence.
Also, the EFCC separately charged them with money laundering, alleging they concealed N8.7 billion proceeds of unlawful activities.
Malami’s case involves handling a 2021 UAE list of Nigerian terror financiers and arms cache found at his home.
