EFCC: Court grants bail to Abubakar Malami amid alleged financial misconduct

Former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has been granted bail by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Bello Kawu granted Malami bail on Monday, approving conditions earlier proposed by the EFCC.

As part of the bail terms, Malami is to surrender his international passport and execute bail bonds with two sureties.

The sureties include the Director-General of the Nigerian Legal Aid Council and a serving member of the House of Representatives representing Augie/Argungu Federal Constituency.

Justice Kawu ruled that bail was granted based on exceptional hardship, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.

The court adjourned the matter to January 5, 2026, for further hearing.

Earlier, Malami had strongly denied EFCC allegations linking him to 46 illegal bank accounts and alleged financial misconduct, including claims surrounding the repatriation of funds linked to the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Bello Doka, the former Attorney-General described the allegations as “ridiculous and baseless.”

He insisted that he operates only six bank accounts, all of which, according to him, are already known to the anti-graft agency.

Doka further stated that Malami has no connection to any recovered Abacha loot or any other financial impropriety being circulated in the media.

With bail secured, attention now shifts to January 2026, when the court will hear the substantive motion that could shape the direction of the case against the former Justice Minister.