Former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and two family members – wife and son – have been granted bail in their ongoing N9 billion money laundering trial.
Standing before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 16-count indictment, the defendants secured their release following the commencement of the EFCC’s witness testimonies.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik insisted on hearing the prosecution’s first witness before entertaining bail applications, a procedural move she had previously established.
The EFCC subsequently called David Ajoma, a Sterling Bank compliance officer, to the stand. Ajoma, who oversees law enforcement inquiries for the bank, served as the foundational witness for the anti-graft agency’s case.
“On December 2, 2025, Sterling Bank received a request from the EFCC seeking details of loan facilities granted to Rayham Hotel Limited,” Ajoma told the court.
He added that the bank subsequently forwarded the requested documents, including the account opening package, loan account statements, and other supporting records.
According to the witness, “the loan facility granted to Rayham Hotel Limited was backed by a cash collateral from Metropolitan Autotech.”
He explained that both Metropolitan Autotech and Rayham Hotel Limited maintain separate accounts with Sterling Bank, adding that “the signatory to the Metropolitan Autotech account is one Hassan Aliyu.”
Under cross-examination, Ajoma admitted that he was not the relationship manager for either Rayham Hotel Limited or Metropolitan Autotech accounts and was “therefore not privy to the specific details or purposes of inflows into the accounts.”
He also confirmed that “the name of the former AGF Malami, did not appear on the loan application documents presented to the court.”
“The only name appearing on the loan application was Abdulaziz Malami, who signed as the Managing Director of Rayham Hotel Limited,” the banker stated.
Ajoma further told the court that “none of the transactions reviewed by the bank originated from any government account, the Federal Ministry of Justice, or from Malami personally.”
“From the documents available before the court, I could not identify any suspicious transaction linked to the accounts under review,” the witness emphasised. He added that “no transaction was found to be in breach of regulations issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Following the witness testimony, defense counsel formally moved for bail for Abubakar Malami, his wife, and their son.
While the EFCC did not oppose the application, the commission urged the court to set stringent conditions to ensure the defendants’ presence throughout the trial.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently granted bail in the sum of N200 million each, supported by two sureties in like sum.
As part of the requirements, at least one surety must provide title documents for landed property situated in Abuja’s high-brow Maitama or Asokoro districts.
Additionally, the defendants were ordered to surrender their international passports to the Court Registrar.
Until these conditions are fully met, the judge ordered the trio to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The trial has been adjourned until March 16, 2026, for further proceedings.
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