The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday re-arraigned Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), alongside his wife, Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz, on money laundering charges.
They appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja following the reassignment of the case to the new trial judge.
At the resumed hearing, EFCC’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the session was scheduled for the defendants’ re-arraignment.
“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 corrections to the sums listed in Counts 11 and 12, asking that Count 11 be amended from N325 billion to N325 million, and Count 12 from N120 billion to N120 million.
With no objection from the defence lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, Justice Abdulmalik granted the oral application.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts brought against them by the EFCC, which relate to alleged money laundering.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Obiora Egwuatu had previously withdrawn from the case on Feb. 12, shortly after the civil case filed by the EFCC was brought before him.
Earlier, the case was before Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as a vacation judge during the Christmas/New Year break. After the vacation, the Chief Judge reassigned it to Justice Egwuatu, who later recused himself, leading to the current assignment to Justice Abdulmalik.
Malami, his wife, and son were initially arraigned before Justice Nwite in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025 on Dec. 30, 2025.
While Malami and his son were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, Asabe was held at Suleja Correctional Centre, before all three were granted bail of N500 million each on Jan. 7, with two sureties each in like sum.