“I Am Unapproachable” — Judge Warns Counsel in Malami Trial

Abuja, January 7, 2025

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday warned counsel and litigants in the ongoing trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and two others to desist from approaching him for any favour, stressing that his court would not compromise the law.

The trial judge cautioned that his familiarity or perceived leniency should not be mistaken for weakness, declaring that attempts to influence the court would be firmly resisted.
“I want to admonish and warn counsels and litigants that they should know the type of court they are appearing before. All judges are not the same. Irrespective of my familiarity with you, when I am dealing with any case, do not approach me. The best you can do for your clients is to get the best lawyers in this country. The law cannot be bent as far as this court is concerned.
“So, I want to warn each and every litigant and lawyer appearing before this court that they should understand the way this court works. Please, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Any attempt to tarnish my name will be resisted and dealt with. I warned, I warned, and I warned!” Justice Nwite declared.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Malami alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged money laundering offences amounting to ₦8,713,923,759.49 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo).

The defendants were arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count one of the charge alleges that Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, between July 2022 and June 2025 in Abuja, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of ₦1,014,848,500.00 lodged in a Sterling Bank Plc account, knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that the sum constituted proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to Section 21(c) of the Act and punishable under Section 18(3).
Count five alleges that Malami, his son, and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, conspired in September 2024 to disguise the unlawful origin of ₦1,049,173,926.13 paid through the Union Bank Plc account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024, contrary to Section 21 of the Act and punishable under Sections 18(2)(a) and 18(3).

Count six further alleges that Malami and his son, between November 2022 and October 2025, indirectly took control of ₦1,362,887,872.96 paid through the Union Bank Plc savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to Section 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Act.
Earlier in the proceedings, Justice Nwite granted Malami, his wife, and his son bail in the sum of ₦500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Naira) each, with two sureties in like sum. The sureties are required to depose to affidavits of means.