Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abdulaziz Malami, bail in the sum of ₦500 million. The bail also applies to his wife and son, with each defendant required to meet strict conditions set by the court.
Delivering his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Nwite ordered that each of the defendants must provide two sureties in like sum. The sureties are required to own landed property in high-value areas of Abuja, specifically Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa. All property documents are to be submitted to the court and verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar, while the sureties must also swear to an affidavit of means.
The court further directed Malami and the other defendants to submit their travel documents to the court. Malami, in particular, was warned not to travel out of the country without prior approval from the court. Both the defendants and their sureties were also instructed to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registry.
Despite the bail approval, Justice Nwite ordered that Malami be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the full perfection of the bail conditions.
The court fixed February 17 for the commencement of trial in the case. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 16-count charge against Malami, his wife, and son, accusing them of money laundering involving alleged transactions worth about ₦9 billion.
Malami has been in EFCC custody since December 8, after reportedly failing to meet the bail conditions earlier granted by the anti-graft agency. On December 18, 2025, the Federal Capital Territory High Court upheld his continued detention, with Justice Babangida Hassan ruling that the detention was lawful under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Justice Hassan had dismissed Malami’s bail application at the time, stating that granting it would amount to sitting as an appellate court over a decision made by a court of coordinate jurisdiction, which the court
