A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife, Asabe Bashir, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, in a high-profile corruption trial.
Presiding Judge Justice Emeka Nwite set bail at ₦500 million for the defendants, with a requirement for two sureties each. The sureties must own property within the high-end districts of Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa in Abuja.
The court further ordered the defendants to surrender their travel documents to the court’s registrar and prohibited them from leaving the country without judicial permission. Both the defendants and their sureties are required to submit two passport photographs.
During the proceedings, Justice Nwite issued a stern warning against any attempts by lawyers or litigants to approach him improperly regarding the case, emphasizing that any such efforts would be dealt with firmly. He advised all parties to focus on securing competent legal representation to present and defend their cases.
The trio pleaded not guilty to all sixteen counts of alleged financial crimes brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges followed extensive arguments over the bail application.