Two witnesses of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 16, told the federal high court in Abuja how millions of naira moved through accounts linked to companies associated with former attorney-general of the federation, Abubakar Malami, as his alleged money laundering trial continues.
Malami, alongside his wife, Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abdulaziz Malami, is facing a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering brought by the EFCC.
The three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
At Monday’s hearing, the prosecution presented two bank officials as witnesses.
The first, Simon Daniel Kwayil, a compliance officer with Union Bank of Nigeria, told the court that his bank received a request from the EFCC in December 2025 for documents relating to the account of Meethaq Hotels Limited.
According to Kwayil, the bank provided statements of account, account opening documents and a certificate of compliance for the account.
These documents were later admitted in evidence during the proceedings.
He explained that the sole signatory to the account of Meethaq Hotels Limited is Malami’s wife, based on a board resolution of the company.
The witness further told the court that between February 2 and April 3, 2024, about N48 million was electronically transferred from the hotel’s account to accounts linked to Malami and his law firm, A.A. Malami & Co.
Kwayil also revealed that the account recorded several inflows and outflows, including over N99 million deposited into the account between December 5, 2022, and April 14, 2023.
During cross-examination by the defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, the bank official stated that none of the deposits into the account came from any government agency.
He also told the court that he did not know the purpose of the transactions.
The prosecution later called another witness, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank. Egoro testified that the EFCC requested documents related to the accounts of Agro Allied Limited and Khadimiya for Justice and Development Initiative.
Despite objections from the defence, the presiding judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, ruled that the documents could be admitted as exhibits.
Egoro told the court that Abdulaziz Malami is the sole signatory to the account of Agro Allied Limited.
He added that the company obtained a N400 million loan from Access Bank in October 2020, with parts of the funds later transferred to other companies.
Egoro also disclosed that the Khadimiya for Justice and Development Initiative account received total inflows amounting to over N1.857 billion between 2020 and 2025.
Under cross-examination, Egoro said he did not know the purpose of the transactions or the individuals who made the deposits, but confirmed that no funds came from any government agency.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to April 29 for continuation of the trial.
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