N9bn Scam Case: EFCC Launches Court Proceedings Against Malami and Spouse

n n

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday began the trial of the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, over an alleged N9bn money laundering charge at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

n

Malami is standing trial alongside his wife, Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz, on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering.

n

At the resumed sitting, the trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, directed the EFCC to call its first witness after counsel to Malami, Joseph Daudu SAN, attempted to draw the court’s attention to the defendants’ pending bail application.

n

The judge, however, reminded the counsel that she had earlier ruled that the bail application and other motions would be taken after the prosecution’s first witness had given his evidence-in-chief.

n

Following the ruling, the EFCC called its first witness, David Ajoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank, Abuja, who told the court that he had worked with the bank for three years and handled compliance requests from law enforcement agencies.

n

Ajoma testified that on December 2, 2025, Sterling Bank received a request from the EFCC seeking details of loan facilities granted to Rayham Hotel Limited.

n

According to him, the bank subsequently forwarded the requested documents, including the account opening package, loan account statements, and other supporting records.

n

The witness further told the court that the loan facility granted to Rayham Hotel Limited was backed by cash collateral from Metropolitan Autotech.

n

He explained that both Metropolitan Autotech and Rayham Hotel Limited maintained separate accounts with Sterling Bank, adding that the signatory to the Metropolitan Autotech account was one Hassan Aliyu.

n

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.

n

He also confirmed that the name of the former AGF, Malami, did not appear on the loan application documents presented to the court.

n

According to the witness, the only name appearing on the loan application was Abdulaziz Malami, who signed as the Managing Director of Rayham Hotel Limited.

n

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.

n

The compliance officer also stated that from the documents available before the court, he could not identify any suspicious transaction linked to the accounts under review.

n

He added that no transaction was found to be in breach of regulations issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

n

After the witness concluded his testimony, counsel to the defendants moved the application for bail for Malami, his wife and their son.

n

The EFCC informed the court that it was not opposed to the request but urged the judge to impose conditions that would guarantee the defendants’ availability for trial.

n

Ruling on the application, Justice Abdulmalik granted bail to the three defendants in the sum of N200m each with two sureties in like sum.

n

The judge ordered that one of the sureties must deposit title documents of landed property located in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja.

n

The court also directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registrar.

n

Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

n

The judge subsequently adjourned the case till March 16 for continuation of trial.

n n