Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail of ₦500 million each to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, his wife and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, in an ongoing fraud trial.
The ruling followed arguments on a bail application after the defendants pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts of alleged financial crimes filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Nwite also issued a stern warning to lawyers and litigants, cautioning them against any attempt to influence the court. He said anyone who tries to approach him outside the judicial process would face consequences.
“The best parties can do is to engage competent lawyers to present and defend their cases,” the judge said.
The EFCC had arraigned Malami, his son, Abdulaziz, and an associate, Bashir Asabe, before the court earlier in the day. All three defendants denied the charges when the plea was taken.
Following the arraignment, legal teams on both sides made submissions on whether the defendants should be released on bail or remanded in custody pending trial. The prosecution opposed the application, while defence lawyers argued that their clients were entitled to bail under the law.
Justice Nwite’s decision means the defendants will face trial outside detention, subject to meeting the bail conditions set by the court.
The case adds to a growing list of high-profile corruption trials involving former public officials and is expected to draw close public attention as proceedings continue.
