Keypoints:
- EFCC files 16-count charge against former justice minister
- Alleged laundering involves over 8bn naira in assets
- Court remands accused pending January bail hearing
NIGERIA’S anti-corruption agency has charged a former attorney general and minister of justice with multiple counts of money laundering and criminal conspiracy, escalating scrutiny of senior officials from the previous administration.
Court documents filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja outline 16 charges linked to alleged financial crimes spanning a decade. The former justice minister, Abubakar Malami, who served in the role from 2015 until 2023, is accused of orchestrating transactions designed to conceal the origins of funds suspected to have been obtained unlawfully.
The EFCC says the alleged offences occurred between 2015 and 2025, covering both the period when the accused held public office and the years immediately after leaving government.
Family member and associate implicated
Also charged alongside Malami are his son and a female associate described by investigators as being closely linked to his private business interests. According to the commission, the associate was connected to a property development company allegedly controlled by the former minister.
Prosecutors allege that the three defendants worked together to move and disguise more than 8bn naira (about $5.5 million) through a network of corporate bank accounts and real estate purchases. The EFCC claims these structures were deliberately used to obscure beneficial ownership and evade financial oversight.
Properties listed in charge sheet
The charge sheet details a portfolio of high-value assets that investigators say were acquired using illicit funds. These include a luxury duplex in Abuja’s exclusive Maitama district, hotel properties in Jabi, and multiple plots of land in Gwarimpa and Asokoro.
The commission alleges that some of the assets were purchased while the former justice minister was still in office, raising concerns about abuse of office and the misuse of privileged access to financial systems.
Investigators further claim that ownership of several properties was masked through third parties and corporate vehicles to create layers of separation between the accused and the assets.
Defendants plead not guilty
All three defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read in court on Tuesday. Lawyers representing the former justice minister declined to comment publicly on the substance of the allegations, stating only that their client would contest the charges in full.
Following submissions from the prosecution, the court ordered that the accused be remanded in EFCC custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for January 2. The judge cited the seriousness of the allegations and the scale of the alleged financial transactions in making the ruling.
Political and legal implications
The case carries significant political weight. As attorney general, the former justice minister was one of the most powerful figures in government, overseeing prosecutions, asset recovery efforts, and the administration’s broader anti-corruption agenda.
Legal analysts say the charges could test the credibility of Nigeria’s ongoing anti-graft campaign, which has frequently been criticised for failing to hold top officials accountable after they leave office.
The EFCC has indicated that investigations remain ongoing and that additional charges or asset forfeiture applications could follow if further evidence emerges during the trial process.
If convicted, the defendants face lengthy prison sentences and the permanent confiscation of assets deemed to have been acquired through unlawful means.
