BREAKING: Malami’s Son suddenly falls ill, Rushed to Kuje Prison Clinic Amid Money Laundering Trial

Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, son of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has been taken to the Kuje Correctional Centre clinic following a sudden illness. He was remanded alongside his father and the latter’s fourth wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe.

Sources told SaharaReporters that Abdulaziz was admitted for observation on Tuesday after falling ill unexpectedly. “Malami’s son suddenly fell sick and was rushed to Kuje clinic to stay there for observation,” a prison source stated.

Earlier on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Malami, his wife Asabe, and son Abdulaziz before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja. The defendants face a 16-count charge of conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities totaling ₦8,713,923,759.49, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

At the start of proceedings, prosecuting counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, stated the arraignment was for the defendants to enter their pleas. Defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection. All three pleaded not guilty.

Court filings indicate the EFCC alleges that Malami used corporate fronts, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd and Meethaq Hotels Ltd, to launder public funds while in office. One charge states that Malami and his son procured over ₦1,014,848,500 through Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd between July 2022 and June 2025 to conceal the origin of the funds in a Sterling Bank account. Another alleges that Malami used ₦600,000,000 as collateral to secure a loan for Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite allegedly knowing the money was suspicious.

Additional counts accuse the defendants of using property companies and Bureau De Change operators to conceal payments for high-end properties in Maitama, Jabi, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, and Kano. These include a ₦500 million luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama; a ₦700 million property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki; an ₦850 million Meethaq Hotels property, Jabi; a ₦430 million Rhine Street property, Maitama; and ₦537 million properties in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi. Two properties were specifically identified as Hamonia Hotels Ltd, Area 11 Garki, and Meethaq Hotels on Rhine Street, Maitama.

In documents tendered as Proof of Evidence, the EFCC listed witnesses including investigators, Bureau De Change operators, and bankers. Officials Folarin Dare, Chinedu Eneanya, and Sani Lukeman are expected to testify on how petitions and intelligence reports triggered the investigation into alleged “monumental corruption” linked to the former minister. A witness, Hassan Aliyu, reportedly claimed that his company’s account was used for suspicious multi-million-naira transactions without his full knowledge.

Despite the serious allegations, Malami, his wife, and son insist on their innocence. Their not guilty plea has set the stage for a full trial to determine the outcome of the charges.