By Achile Danjuma
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife, Asabe Bashir, and their son, Abdulaziz Malami.
The trial judge, Justice Abdulmalik, granted the defendants bail on Friday in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered that at least one of the sureties must deposit the title deeds of a property located in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja.
The court also directed the defendants to surrender their passports to the court as part of the bail requirements.
Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that Malami, his wife and their son should remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions set by the court.
Malami and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, are also facing trial for alleged terrorism.
Justice Abdulmalik on Tuesday, March 3, the terrorism trial till March 10, 2026, following an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, who requested additional time to study the case file.
Oyedepo told the court that the matter was recently transferred from the Department of State Services (DSS) to the Department of Public Prosecutions, making it necessary for him to familiarise himself with the facts of the case before proceeding with trial.
Counsel for the defendants, Mr Adedayo Adedeji, did not oppose the application for adjournment.
However, he urged the court to strike out the charges if the prosecution fails to commence trial on the next adjourned date, alleging a lack of diligent prosecution.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until March 10 for trial and directed the prosecution to open its case on the said date.
The development comes amid the ongoing prosecution of Malami and members of his family by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency had earlier re-arraigned Malami, alongside his wife, Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering offences.
The defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Abdulmalik following the reassignment of the case after two judges reportedly withdrew from the matter.
At the resumed proceedings, prosecution counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the case was appearing before the new trial judge for the first time and requested that the defendants take their pleas.
Malami and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering.
Defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, reminded the court that his clients had earlier been granted bail on January 7 by Justice Emeka Nwite of the same court and that the bail conditions had already been perfected.
However, Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the earlier proceedings had been legally terminated following the reassignment of the case and directed that fresh bail applications be filed.
The court subsequently ordered that Malami and his son be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife was remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their new bail applications.