The Federal Government has filed 16 alleged money laundering charges involving ₦1.014 billion against a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malawi, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Also listed as a co-defendant is Hajia Bashir Asabe.
According to the charge, the government is accusing Malami, his son and others of laundering and concealing ₦1,014,848,500.00 allegedly traced to a commercial bank account. The prosecution alleges that the funds were concealed through the use of Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, which it described as a front company.
The government alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, within Abuja and the jurisdiction of the court, the defendants procured the company to disguise the origin and movement of the funds, an act said to constitute money laundering under Nigerian law.
One of the counts reads in part:
“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 ₦1,014,848,500.00 … 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.”
In the 16-count charge, the government further alleged that the defendants used proceeds of unlawful activities to acquire and conceal ownership of multiple properties in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi, including properties in Maitama, Asokoro, Jabi, Gwarimpa and Garki, through various companies and third parties.
Some of the alleged transactions date back to 2015, while others were said to have occurred during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General between 2015 and 2023, and afterward.
The alleged offences are said to be contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended.
Malami served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
