Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, son of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was on Tuesday rushed to the clinic at the Kuje Correctional Centre after reportedly falling ill while in custody.
The development comes hours after his arraignment alongside his father and Malami’s fourth wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, over alleged large-scale financial crimes.
Sudden Illness in Custody
Sources familiar with the situation told SaharaReporters that Abdulaziz Malami suddenly took ill and was moved to the prison medical facility for observation.
“Malami’s son suddenly fell sick and was rushed to Kuje clinic to stay there for observation,” a prison source disclosed.
No official medical details were released as of the time of filing this report.
EFCC Arraignment Over ₦8.7bn Alleged Fraud
Earlier on Tuesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the Malami family before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
They are facing a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procurement, concealment, and laundering of proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to ₦8,713,923,759.49, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecuting counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the arraignment was for the defendants to take their pleas. Defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection, and all three defendants pleaded not guilty.
Allegations Detailed by EFCC
According to court filings, the EFCC alleges that Abubakar Malami and members of his family used front companies, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd and Meethaq Hotels Ltd, to launder public funds during his tenure as Attorney-General.
One of the charges alleges that Malami and his son procured over ₦1 billion through Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd between July 2022 and June 2025 to disguise the source of funds lodged in a Sterling Bank account.
Another count accuses Malami of deploying ₦600 million as collateral to secure a loan for Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, allegedly knowing the funds were of suspicious origin.
Further allegations involve the use of Bureau De Change operators and luxury properties to conceal payments for high-end real estate in Abuja and Kano, including duplexes and hotel assets valued at hundreds of millions of naira.
EFCC Witnesses and Evidence
In its Proof of Evidence, the EFCC listed multiple witnesses, including its officials, bankers, and Bureau De Change operators.
The commission said investigations were triggered by petitions and intelligence reports pointing to what it described as “monumental corruption”.
One witness, Hassan Aliyu, was quoted as saying:
“My company’s account was used for suspicious multi-million-naira transactions without my full knowledge.”
Detention and Bail Hearing
The defendants are currently being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre, reportedly in a VIP cell.
Despite the allegations, the Malami family has maintained their innocence.
The Federal High Court has adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for a bail hearing, after which the trial is expected to proceed.
This remains a developing legal case, and all allegations are subject to determination by the court.
Related: US Military Strikes Vessel in Caribbean Amid Biden–Trump Nigeria Rhetoric
