The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday re-arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, his wife, Asabe Bashir, and their son, Abdulaziz, on alleged money laundering offences.
The defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, following the reassignment of the case to a new trial judge.
At the resumed hearing, EFCC counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, told the court that the matter was fixed for re-arraignment and requested that the pleas of the defendants be taken. He also applied for corrections to the charge, asking that the amounts in Counts 11 and 12 be amended to N325 million and N120 million respectively, instead of N325 billion and N120 billion.
The application was not opposed by defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, and Justice Abdulmalik granted it.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency, all bordering on money laundering.
Meanwhile, another judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, had on the 12th of February withdrawn from the case shortly after a related civil suit by the EFCC was brought before him. The case was previously handled by Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as a vacation judge during the Christmas and New Year break.
Following the end of the vacation period, the Chief Judge reassigned the matter to Justice Egwuatu, who later recused himself, leading to its reassignment to Justice Abdulmalik.
Malami, his wife and son were initially arraigned on December 30, 2025, in a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025. Malami and his son were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while Asabe was remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre.
They were later granted bail in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties in like sum, on January 7.