The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, on Monday admitted nine documentary exhibits in the ongoing trial of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.
The exhibits were presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, concealment, and laundering of alleged proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8.71 billion.
The defendants are accused of violating provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
During proceedings, the documents were tendered through the fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, who told the court that the bank responded to EFCC requests for account records linked to the defendants and several companies.
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Bata said the documents were provided in both soft and hard copies and covered accounts associated with firms including Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, Nashab Limited, Golden Age Global Ventures, and Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
Under cross-examination led by prosecution counsel J.S. Okutepa (SAN), the witness confirmed that the exhibits numbered nine and could be identified in court.
The court admitted the documents as Exhibits D1 to D9 despite objections from defence counsel J.B. Daudu (SAN), who questioned aspects of the documentation dates.
Further testimony revealed that the accounts were active between 2012 and 2023, with transactions running into billions of naira.
The witness outlined several inflows, including transfers from companies such as New Horizons Limited, Rayhaan Hotels Limited, and Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, with individual transactions ranging from hundreds of millions to over ₦600 million.
He also stated that total credits and debits across the accounts spanned multiple years, with figures presented for both 2012–2015 and 2016–2023 periods.
Following the proceedings, defence counsel requested an adjournment to review the exhibits in preparation for cross-examination, which was granted.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to May 13, 2026, for continuation of trial.
