The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday re-arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his wife, Asabe Bashir, and their son, Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged money laundering offences.
The trio appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja after the matter was reassigned to her.
At the resumed proceedings, EFCC counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, told the court that the case was coming up for the first time before the new judge and sought to have the defendants take their plea.
“The matter is coming before your lordship this morning for the very first time. I will be applying for the plea of the defendants to be taken,” he said.
Okutepa also requested a correction to the amounts stated in Counts 11 and 12, asking the court to amend Count 11 from N325 billion to N325 million and Count 12 from N120 billion to N120 million.
The defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, did not oppose the application, and Justice Abdulmalik subsequently granted the request.
Malami, his wife and son thereafter pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge filed against them by the anti-graft agency, which centres on alleged money laundering.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the case had initially been assigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who withdrew from it on February 12 shortly after the EFCC’s related civil matter was brought before him.
The matter was previously handled by Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided as vacation judge during the Christmas and New Year break.
After the court resumed from vacation, the Chief Judge reassigned the case to Justice Egwuatu, who later recused himself, leading to its transfer to Justice Abdulmalik.
The defendants were first arraigned before Justice Nwite on December 30, 2025, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025.
Following their initial arraignment, Malami and his son were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while Asabe was held at the Suleja Correctional Centre. They were subsequently granted bail on January 7 in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties apiece in like sum.
