“Don’t Approach Me, the Law Cannot Be Bent” — Judge Alleges Bribery Attempt in Malami Trial

Proceedings in the money laundering trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, took a dramatic turn on Wednesday after the presiding judge alleged that attempts were made to improperly influence the court.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, disclosed that he had been approached by individuals seeking a favourable outcome shortly after he granted bail to Malami and his co-defendants in the sum of ₦1.5 billion.

Malami, who served as Attorney-General from November 2015 to May 2023, is standing trial alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges that the defendants laundered public funds amounting to about ₦9 billion.

According to the EFCC, Malami used proxies and corporate entities to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities, including the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kebbi and Kano. The commission told the court that between July 2022 and June 2025, over ₦1.01 billion was allegedly laundered through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited via a Sterling Bank account.

The EFCC further alleged that between September 2020 and February 2021, the same company was used to conceal about ₦600 million, and that in March 2021, ₦600 million suspected to be proceeds of crime was retained as cash collateral for a ₦500 million loan obtained by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd from Sterling Bank.

In granting bail, Justice Nwite issued a strong warning to all parties, lawyers and litigants, cautioning against any further attempts to influence the court.

“All judges are not the same. Do not approach me in any form. The law cannot be bent in this court,” the judge said, adding that any attempt to test the court’s resolve would be firmly resisted.

As part of the bail conditions, each defendant is required to produce two sureties who own landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory. The court also ordered the submission of verified title documents, recent passport photographs of the sureties, affidavits of means, and the surrender of the defendants’ international passports.

The defendants were ordered to remain in custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions and were barred from travelling خارج the country without court approval.

The matter was adjourned to February 17 for commencement of trial. The prosecution is expected to call investigators, bank officials, real estate agents and Bureau de Change operators as witnesses.

Malami was arrested by the EFCC on December 8, 2025, after honouring an invitation from the agency. He later accused the commission of revoking an earlier administrative bail and claimed the prosecution was politically motivated, alleging that the revocation followed his attendance at a political rally in Kebbi State.

The charges against the defendants include allegations of concealing over ₦1.01 billion through corporate accounts, disguising the origin of ₦500 million used to purchase a luxury duplex in Maitama, Abuja, and acquiring multiple properties valued at over ₦415 million, allegedly with proceeds of unlawful activities.