The trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, continued on Friday at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness narrating how millions of naira flowed from various individuals and companies into an account used to secure a loan linked to a hotel allegedly owned by the former minister.
The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8.71 billion, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel J.S. Okutepa, SAN, told the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing and that the prosecution had two witnesses ready to testify.
The first prosecution witness, David Ajoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank, testified that the bank received a request from the EFCC on December 22, 2025, seeking documents relating to Rayhaan Hotels Limited, including records connected with a loan facility and financial transactions involving Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited.
Ajoma explained that Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited’s account was used as collateral for a loan facility granted to Rayhaan Hotels Limited.
The witness confirmed that the documents presented in court were the same records supplied to the EFCC in response to its request. The prosecution subsequently tendered the letter sent to the EFCC chairman along with supporting financial records, which the court admitted as evidence and marked as Exhibit A series.
While examining the documents, Ajoma told the court that Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami applied for a loan facility using the account of Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited as collateral in February 2021. According to him, the fixed deposit backing the loan was created on February 8, 2021.
He further told the court that the account of Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited recorded numerous deposits from individuals and companies beginning in September 2020, including transactions from persons such as Alhaji Ibrahim, Yusuf Umar, Nafiu Muhammad Abubakar, and Hussaini Jajaye Rogo Enterprises, among others.
The witness said several inflows ranging from millions of naira were made into the account over multiple dates between September and October 2020, while additional deposits continued into late 2020 and early 2021 from various individuals and businesses.
Ajoma also told the court that the account statement of Rayhaan Hotels Limited showed a credit entry of N500 million on March 17, 2021, representing a loan facility granted to the company.
He stated that Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, who he identified as a director of Rayhaan Hotels Limited, submitted the loan application requesting a N500 million facility, while the account of Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited served as collateral.
The witness further testified that the Rayhaan Hotels account also received deposits from several entities in 2024, including payments from Audu Bashir, JS Poultry Business Ventures, and Oboven General Enterprises, among others.
Ajoma explained that Rayhaan Hotels Limited and Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited maintain separate bank accounts. He added that the account opening documents showed Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami as the signatory to the Rayhaan Hotels account, while Hassan Aliyu Mohammed was listed as the signatory for the Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited account.
During cross-examination, defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, questioned the witness about his professional experience and whether he observed any suspicious transactions in the bank records presented as evidence.
Ajoma replied that although he had several years of experience in the banking sector, he could not confirm whether any suspicious transaction report had been filed in relation to the accounts.
Following the cross-examination, the witness was discharged.
The prosecution informed the court that another witness from Union Bank was present but said the statement filed was incomplete, making it difficult to proceed with the testimony immediately.
Defence counsel later moved an application for bail on behalf of the defendants. The prosecution did not oppose the request but asked the court to impose conditions to ensure their attendance throughout the trial.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik granted bail to the three defendants in the sum of N200 million each with two sureties in like sum.
The court also ordered that the sureties must provide developed properties located in Asokoro and Maitama in Abuja, submit affidavits of means and provide passport photographs. The defendants were also directed to deposit their international passports with the court.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the court ordered that the defendants remain in custody at the Kuje and Suleja correctional centres.
The case was adjourned to March 16, 2026, for continuation of trial.
