RismadarVoice Reporter, February 27, 2026
A fresh twist has emerged in the trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, as a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ruled that his earlier bail no longer stands following the reassignment of his case.
The court held that since the matter commenced afresh before it, all previous proceedings including the bail earlier granted by Justice Emeka Nwite were legally terminated, thereby requiring a fresh bail application.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had filed a 16-count charge against Malami over alleged money laundering and unlawful acquisition of assets valued at over eight-point-seven billion naira. His son, Abdulaziz, and wife, Asabe, are also standing trial alongside him.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, J.S. Okutepa, applied for the defendants to take their pleas on the amended 16-count charge.
Malami, his son and his wife all pleaded not guilty.
Following the plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a date for trial.
However, the defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, urged the court to sustain the earlier bail conditions, arguing that the Federal High Court is a single court and that the defendants had already been admitted to bail.
In response, the prosecution acknowledged the earlier bail but maintained that the new court had the discretion to either adopt the previous conditions or impose fresh ones to ensure the defendants’ attendance at trial.
In her ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that where a case begins afresh due to reassignment, earlier proceedings are extinguished in law.
She declined an oral bail application by the defence and directed counsel to file a formal application to be served on the prosecution.
The court also addressed claims by the defence that two of the defendants were in the custody of the Department of State Services, stating that it could not speculate on their status and that it was the prosecution’s duty to ensure their availability.
The prosecution, however, said the defendants were not in its custody.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 6 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.
She ordered that Abubakar Malami and his son be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife was remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
