Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, bail in the sum of N200 million pending his trial over alleged N8.7 billion money laundering charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
Malami and his co-defendants were each ordered to produce two sureties who will stand for them in the like sum.
In her ruling on the bail application on Friday, Justice Abdulmalik directed that the sureties must possess developed landed properties in either Maitama or Asokoro areas of Abuja.
The court further ordered that the property documents must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, while the sureties are also required to depose to an affidavit of means.
The defendants were also ordered to deposit their international travelling documents with the court and are barred from leaving the country without the court’s permission. Additionally, both the defendants and their sureties are to submit two recent passport photographs to the court.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, Malami and his son were ordered to be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife is to be held at Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State.
At the time of filing this report, associates, friends and sympathizers of the former Minister of Justice were making efforts to secure the bail conditions for the defendants.
Justice Abdulmalik also fixed March 16 for the commencement of trial on the corruption charges.
The bail applications were argued by Joseph Daudu (SAN) on behalf of the three defendants, while Jibrin Okutepa(SAN), who represented the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, did not oppose the bail request.
Earlier, Justice Emeka Nwite, also of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had admitted Malami to bail in the sum of N500 million while sitting as a vacation judge, but the matter commenced afresh before Justice Abdulmalik.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering against Malami, his son, and his wife.