Abuja High Court Grants ₦200 Million Bail Each to Abubakar Malami and Family Over Money Laundering Charges

Abuja Court grants Abubakar Malami and family bail at ₦200m each. International passports seized and high-value property required as trial set for March 16.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 6:13 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Sun Nigeria

Judicial Determination on Conditional Liberty

The Federal High Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has intervened in the high-profile prosecution of former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, by granting conditional bail to the former official and two family members. On Friday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that Malami, alongside his wife, Asabe Bashir, and their son, Abdulaziz Malami, could be released from custody pending trial upon the fulfillment of substantial financial and administrative requirements. The decision marks a critical preliminary phase in a case that has captured national attention due to the stature of the primary defendant.

Stringent Requirements for High-Profile Release

The court has set the bail bond at ₦200 million for each of the three defendants, requiring that each individual secure two sureties in like sum. Beyond the monetary requirement, Justice Abdulmalik mandated that at least one surety for each defendant must provide verified title documents for landed assets located specifically within the Maitama or Asokoro districts of the capital. These geographic constraints on property collateral reflect the court’s intent to ensure the defendants remain within the jurisdiction of the Nigerian legal system throughout the duration of the criminal proceedings.

Restrictions on International Movement and Custody

To further mitigate any perceived risk of flight, the judiciary has ordered all three family members to surrender their international passports to the court’s custody. This travel restriction is a standard but essential component of the bail terms, intended to prevent the defendants from leaving the country before the conclusion of the litigation. Until every facet of these conditions is verified and met to the court's satisfaction, the former minister and his relatives are to remain under the supervision of the Nigerian Correctional Service.