A Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja has admitted nine documentary exhibits into evidence in the ongoing money laundering trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.
Presiding Justice Joyce Abdulmalik accepted the documents, which were presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as part of its prosecution of the former minister on charges valued at N8.7 billion.
The EFCC is pursuing the defendants on an amended 16-count charge that includes conspiracy, procurement, disguising, concealment, and laundering of proceeds from unlawful activities — all in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The exhibits were introduced through the fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a Compliance Officer at Zenith Bank Plc. Testifying before the court, Bata revealed that he had received a formal request from the EFCC for financial documents connected to accounts belonging to the defendants and several associated companies. He confirmed that the bank provided both digital and physical copies of the requested records, covering accounts tied to firms including Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, Nashab Limited, Golden Age Global Ventures, and Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
The documents, spanning the period between July 19, 2024 and March 12, 2026, were admitted as Exhibits D1 through D9. Defence counsel J. B. Daudu (SAN) raised an initial objection, noting the clustering of dates around March, though the court proceeded to admit the exhibits. The witness subsequently elaborated on the details of the transactions contained in the records under further questioning by prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
Justice Abdulmalik has adjourned the case to May 13, 2026, when the trial is expected to continue.
