ABUJA, Nigeria — A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his son and co-defendant, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of their bail application.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after hearing an oral application for bail made by defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN.
The judge said the prosecution must first be given an opportunity to respond to the earlier written bail application submitted by the defendants.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite said he had considered the arguments on both sides as well as the relevant legal provisions.
“It is not in dispute that an application for bail has been filed by the defendants,” he said. “It is also not in dispute that the bail application has been served on the prosecution.”
He added that the application could not be withdrawn by the defendants and that granting bail without hearing from the prosecution would amount to unfairness.
According to the judge, agreeing to the request immediately would “amount to an ambush” and “will breach the right to fair hearing against the prosecution.”
“I am of the view that the interest of justice will be met by allowing the prosecution to respond to the bail application filed,” he said.
He directed that the defendants be kept at Kuje Correctional Centre until the bail request is heard and adjourned the matter to January 2 for hearing of the applications.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in case number FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, listed Malami as first defendant, alongside Hajia Bashir Asabe and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami as second and third defendants in a money-laundering case.
The court proceedings continue on the adjourned date, when the prosecution is expected to present its response to the pending bail applications.
