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30 property valued at N212.8b: EFCC files money laundering charge against Malami, son

Published

9 months ago

December 24, 2025

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Abubakar Malami (SAN), former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, has been charged with money laundering.

He will face a 16-count charge.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him under Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended and punishable under Section 15(3).

He is charged along with his son, Abdulaziz, and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, Hajia Bashir Asabe.

In the charge, the first in three series, Malami was alleged to have laundered about N9billion to buy choice houses in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and others.

The ex-AGF is to account for how he came about 30 houses, valued at N212.8billion.

They were mostly acquired during his eight years in office.

He served between 2015 and 2023 in the government of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

The EFCC may invoke the Non-Conviction Asset Forfeiture clause of its Establishment Act to seize some of the properties.

It has a 14-day window to ask anyone interested to show cause as to why the assets should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The anti-graft commission is awaiting a date from the Federal High Court, Abuja, for the commencement of the trial.

The charge sheet was dated December 23rd, 2025.

In what appears a mother of all trials, those who will prosecute Malami are Chief Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Ekene Iheanacho (SAN), leading 14 other lawyers.

No fewer than 10 witnesses have been frontloaded to the court in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

There was no official reaction from Malami yesterday because he was still in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

His last reaction was a statement in which he asked the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, to recuse himself from his trial.

The 16 charges revealed how Malami engaged Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to launder funds.

The charges are as follows:

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between July 2022 and June, 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did procure Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N1, 014, 848, 500.00 (One Billion, Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) in the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed proceeds of unlawful activities and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between September 2020 and February, 2021in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did procure Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of the total sum of N600,013,460.4 in the Sterling Bank Plc Account No. 0079182387 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum formed proceeds of unlawful activitiesand you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami sometime in March, 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did retain the total sum of N600,000,000.00 in Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited as cash collateral for a loan of N500,000,000.00 granted to RAYHAAN HOTELS LTD by Sterling Bank Plc when you reasonably ought to have known that the said cash collateral of N600,000,000.00 was proceed of unlawful activities and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amendedpunishable under section 15(3) of the same Act

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited sometime in November, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did indirectly disguise the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N500,000,000.00 paid to Efab Properties Ltd paid for purchase of property known as luxury duplex at Amazon street, Plot No. 3011 within Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN when you reasonably ought to have known that the said N500million formed proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2) (a) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd sometimes in September 2024 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired to disguise the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N1,049,173,926.13 paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Ltd Jabi savings Account No. 0179011105 between November 2022 and September 2024 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act) 2022 and punishable under Section 18(2) (a) and (3) of the same Act.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami between November 2022 and October, 2025 indirectly took control of the aggregate sum of N1,362,887,872.96 paid through the savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited in Union Bank Plc when you reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2) (d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd sometimes between November and December, 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Courtindirectly concealed the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N700,000,000.00 paid for the purchase of the property described as No. 3 Onitsha Crescent Area 11, Garki Abuja (Hamonia Hotels Ltd) in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N700, 000,000.00formed proceeds of unlawful activityand you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) and punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltdsometimes between September 2020 and December, 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly concealed the aggregate sum of N850,000,000.00 paid for the purchase of property described as Plot 683 Jabi District Cadastral Zone B04 (Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi) when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N850, 000, 000.00 represented proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited on or about February, 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly acquired the property described as No. 3 Rhine Street Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Ltd) for an aggregate sum of N430,000,000.00 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N430,000,000.00 formed proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.”

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd sometimes on or about February, 2018 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly concealed the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N210,000,000.00 paid for the purchaseof the property described as No. 3130 Cadastral Zone A04 Asokoro District, Abuja in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N210, 000, 000,000.00 represented proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd between March and June 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly concealed the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N325,000,000,000.00 paid for the purchase of property described as No. 1241B Asokoro District Zone (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent Asokoro) in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N325, 000, 000.00 represented proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) and punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd between November 2015 and January, 2016 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly concealed the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum of N120,000,000,000.00 paid for the purchase of property described as No. 27 Efab Estate 5th Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja in favour of Abubakar Malami SAN when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N120, 000, 000.00 represented proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) and punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended.

“That you Abubakar Malami SANwhilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and Hajia Bashir Asabe an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd sometime in November, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to conceal the unlawful origin of the funds paid for the purchase of property known as luxury duplex at Amazon street, Plot No. 3011 within Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition Act) 2022 and punishable under Section 18(2) (a) and (3) of the same Act.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, Hajia Bashir Asabe whilst being an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd and other persons at large between December, 2016 and April, 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to indirectly acquire landed properties for Abubakar Malami SAN with proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2011 and punishable under Section 15(2) (a) and (3) of the same Act.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, between June and January, 2023in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly concealed the unlawful origin of the aggregate sum N537,000,000.00 which you paid for the purchase of the properties namely (i) No. 26 Babbi Street, BUA Estate, Abuja, (ii) 4 bedroom Bungalow, Guesse 2 Brinin- Kebbi and (iii) No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Kano, Nassarawa GRA, Kano knowing that the said sum of N537, 000,000.00formed proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2) (a) and punishable under section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you Abubakar Malami SAN whilst being the Attorney-General of the Federation, between October 2018 and December, 2021 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly concealed the aggregate sum N415,000,000.00 which you paid for the purchase of the properties namely (i) No. 28 Bagudu Kaltio crescent Gwarimpa, Abuja (ii) Plot 13, Ipent 7 Estate Abuja and (iii) A Plaza, Commercial Toilets, Laundry and Warehouse Tanks Adjacent to Brinin Kebbi Market (iv) 100 hectares of land Along Brinin Kebbi, Jeba Road (v) Plot 157 Lamido Crescent, Nassarawa Road GRA, Kano knowing that the said sum of N415,000,000.00 formed proceeds of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended.”

Related Topics:ABUBAKAR MALAMI EFCC MONEY LAUNDERING

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Good morning! Nigerian Newspapers Headlines: NDC dissociates itself from 59-member presidential campaign council unveiled by Obi-Kwankwaso movement

Published

9 hours ago

September 20, 2026

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1. The leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has distanced itself from the 59-member presidential campaign council constituted by OK Movement, a support group for Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the party, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

In a statement on Saturday, Cleopas Moses, NDC national chairman, said the list did not emanate from the party and should be disregarded.

2. Former Senior Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu, said yesterday that the litigation instituted against Nigeria by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) tribunal in Paris was doomed from the outset.
Garba, who personally attended the January 15, 2025 sitting of the tribunal in the French capital, said it was clear from day one that Sunrise and its promoter Leno Adesanya “would lose this case following the failure of all the witnesses they invited, including, of course, a beautiful lady from Senegal allegedly providing comfort to one of their government contacts.

3. The Presidency yesterday knocked back economic proposals by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. It asked him to take the proposals to Nigerians on his campaign trail rather than seeking to dictate how President Bola Tinubu should govern the country.

4. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has forecast a high risk of riverine flooding across 15 states between September 19 to 25.
In its national flood advisory issued on Friday, the agency said rising river levels could trigger flooding in communities located on floodplains during the seven-day period.
The affected states are Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers, Edo, Kogi, Taraba, Delta, Bayelsa, Enugu and Abia.

5. Delta State Police Command has arrested a suspect after its personnel intercepted a vehicle conveying military camouflage uniforms, boots and hats, as well as cartons of suspected Tramadol and other illicit drugs. The vehicle, a green Toyota Sienna with registration number KP 527 AAA, was intercepted by operatives of the command’s Anti-Cult Unit, Asaba, along the Onitsha-Ondo route on Friday.

6. Police in Rivers State have begun an investigation into the killing of a father of four, Kamadioye Krama, by gunmen in Emulation community, Abua/Odual Local Government Area. The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation was ongoing to apprehend the culprits and bring them to book.

7. President Bola Tinubu has said that, from October 1, commuters across Nigeria must begin to see measurable reductions in transportation fares, as he has directed all 36 states to accelerate the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme. In a statement personally signed and released on Saturday, September 19, Tinubu said the push followed his August 27 meeting with state governors.

8. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has deployed Abdulhamid Kabara as the new commandant of its Niger State Command following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody. Kabara replaces Suberu Aniviye, who was suspended as Niger NSCDC commandant after the 37 suspects died in Minna, the state capital, on Thursday.

9. The Northern Senators Forum on Saturday called for an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into the deaths of 37 young Nigerians in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, Niger State. It described the circumstances surrounding the occurrence as “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”

10. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has suspended the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Aniviye, and 20 other officers following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the Corps’ custody. The officers were suspended pending the outcome of an independent investigation into the deaths, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, 2026. The Ministry of Interior announced the development in a statement signed by Tunji-Ojo on Saturday

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Keyamo, Sunday Dare knock Atiku for addressing President Tinubu as ‘Bola’

Published

22 hours ago

September 19, 2026

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The minister of aviation, Festus Keyamo, and the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and public communication, Sunday Dare, have criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for referring to the President as “Bola”.

Keyamo described Atiku’s use of Tinubu’s first name as “disrespectful and discourteous”.

“The continuous reference to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by His Excellency, ex Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in his press conference earlier today as ‘Bola’ is very disrespectful and discourteous,” he wrote on X.

He said Atiku should recognise that the office of the president deserves to be accorded dignity despite political differences.

“He should know better that no matter your differences with Mr. President, for the sake of the country, that office should be accorded all the dignity it deserves,” Keyamo said.

Keyamo also described the tone of Atiku’s remarks as reflecting “pain and bitterness”, while referring to the former vice-president’s recent comment about Tinubu’s age.

“After all, he made the outlandish claim the other day that Mr. President is older than himself. It is therefore a contradiction that he would also refer to an ‘elder’ by his first name,” he said.

Also, Dare, in a post on X on Saturday, reacted to Atiku’s call for Tinubu to reduce petrol and electricity costs.

Atiku had on Friday asked Tinubu to use the remaining eight months of his administration to reduce the burden of petrol and electricity costs on households, workers and businesses.

He said the removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023 had contributed to higher transportation, food, logistics and energy costs. He also warned against phasing out electricity subsidies without addressing the impact on households and businesses.

Dare described Atiku’s manner of addressing the president as “the height of insolence”, accusing the former vice-president of political desperation.

“Alhaji Atiku’s manner of addressing President Bola Tinubu as Bola is the height of insolence. It is a clear descent into the abyss of unbridled desperation and an unraveling mind,” Dare wrote.

“To seek to lecture a sitting president with the unbridled insolence of dropping his first name, petulantly barking instructions, and dictating how governance should be run within a truncated timeline is the height of political hubris.”

Dare defended the Tinubu administration’s economic policies, saying the president was undertaking reforms to address structural problems in the economy.

Dare also questioned Atiku’s criticism of government intervention in the economy.

“Atiku’s sudden conversion to the gospel of interventionism rings hollow,” he said.

He accused Atiku of using Nigerians’ economic difficulties for political purposes ahead of the 2027 elections.

“This is a desperate strategy by a perennial seeker of power who weaponizes transient national discomforts for electoral mileage,” Dare added.

“Nigerians do not need lectures on fiscal management from a political wanderer whose decades-long pursuit of the presidency has been defined by perpetual opportunism.”

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South Africa-based Nigerian lecturer found dead at her residence

Published

1 day ago

September 19, 2026

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A Nigerian lecturer at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa, Ayodele Odularu, has been found dead at her residence in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

According to reports, Gbadebo Odularu, the brother of the deceased, said she died on August 16 at the age of 51.

A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Punch’s Diaspora Tales that the lecturer’s death was not natural and the circumstances remained unclear to the family.

The family had asked for an investigation into her death.

In a GoFundMe statement published by Gbadebo on behalf of the family, the lecturer was described as someone who “dedicated her life to knowledge, discovery, and creating a better future for communities”.

The family said “although her journey on earth ended too soon, the impact of her life continues through the people she inspired, the knowledge she shared, and the communities she hoped to serve”.

“Ayodele was far more than a sister. She was a cherished daughter, aunt, friend, mentor, scholar, and a source of encouragement, compassion, wisdom, and strength to everyone blessed to know her,” the statement reads.

“Her presence brought warmth into every room. She was known for her kindness, infectious laughter, generosity, resilience, and unwavering commitment to uplifting others. She had a rare ability to make people feel valued, heard, and inspired.

“Dr. Ayodele Odularu dedicated her life to knowledge, discovery, and creating a better future for communities.

“As an Independent Senior Researcher at the University of Fort Hare Community, she contributed meaningfully to academic research and the advancement of knowledge through her scholarly work.”

On Thursday, University of Fort Hare organised a memorial service in honour of the lecturer.

The lecturer died amid the violent attacks against Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.

To date the Federal Government has
facilitated the evacuation of 1,716 Nigerians from South Africa over Xenophobic attacks in the former apartheid country.