Nigeria’s former attorney general Abubakar Malami granted bail in money laundering case

BBC
BBC
1h ago
A Nigerian court granted bail to former attorney general Abubakar Malami, his wife, and his son as they face money laundering charges.
Nigeria’s former attorney general Abubakar Malami granted bail in money laundering case
A What happened
A Nigerian court granted bail to former attorney general Abubakar Malami, his wife, and his son in a money laundering case. Malami was charged in December with 16 counts of money laundering and abuse of office and has been held in prison since then, and he pleaded not guilty in court. The judge set bail at 500 million naira each and required two property-owning guarantors in Abuja and the surrender of travel documents. The EFCC alleges Malami diverted government funds and used them to acquire properties in several Nigerian cities, including Abuja.

Key insights

  • 1

    Court set specific bail conditions: The judge said the charges were bailable offences and set bail at 500 million naira each, with requirements for two Abuja property-owning guarantors and surrender of travel documents.

  • 2

    Malami disputed the basis of his arrest: Malami previously described his arrest as politically motivated.

  • 3

    EFCC allegation centers on diversion of public funds into property purchases: The EFCC alleges Malami diverted government funds and used them to acquire properties in several Nigerian cities, including Abuja.

Takeaways

Abubakar Malami, his wife, and his son remain defendants in a money laundering case with bail granted and the next court date set for 17 February 2025.

Topics

World & Politics Corruption & Accountability Law & Public Safety Crime & Justice Courts

Read the full article on BBC

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