Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has pleaded not guilty to a 16-count money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Malami entered his plea on Tuesday during his arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Also arraigned alongside him were his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his fourth wife, Bashir Asabe.
Both co-defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them by the court registrar.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired over several years to conceal, retain, and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities running into several billions of naira.
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The anti-graft agency claimed that the alleged offences involved the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds, keeping large sums of cash as collateral for loans, and acquiring expensive properties in Abuja, Kano, and other locations.
The EFCC further alleged that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as attorney general, in violation of Nigeria’s money laundering laws.
The case was adjourned, with further details expected to emerge.
