EFCC Arraigns Ex-AGF Malami Over Alleged N8.7bn Money Laundering

Barring any last-minute change, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, today before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged money laundering involving ?8.7 billion.
Sources familiar with the matter said the former justice minister will be docked on multiple counts bordering on conspiracy, money laundering, and diversion of public funds, contrary to relevant provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the EFCC Act.
According to the charges, the alleged offences are linked to transactions said to have occurred during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation, when he allegedly authorised, facilitated, or benefitted from questionable payments running into billions of naira. The funds are said to have been moved through a web of bank accounts and proxies to disguise their origin.
Investigators reportedly traced the alleged illicit funds to payments arising from legal fees, settlements, and asset recovery-related transactions handled by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) during the previous administration. The EFCC is expected to present documentary evidence and call witnesses to substantiate its claims.
It was gathered that Malami will plead to the charges when they are read in court, after which his legal team is expected to apply for bail. The prosecution is also expected to ask the court for a trial date and may oppose bail on grounds of the gravity of the alleged offences.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the EFCC spokesman were unsuccessful as of press time. However, a senior commission source confirmed that “all arrangements have been concluded for the arraignment, subject only to court schedules.”
Malami, who served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023, has consistently denied allegations of corruption levelled against him in the past, insisting that all actions taken while in office were lawful and in line with due process. His aides have previously described similar accusations as politically motivated.
The case is expected to attract significant public attention, given Malami’s prominent role in the previous administration and the scale of the alleged financial impropriety.