An FCT High Court in Abuja has made a significant ruling in the case involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), granting him interim bail and scheduling a new date for the substantive hearing of his motion.
Bail Conditions and Court Directives
Presiding Justice Bello Kawu approved the interim bail request on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The court order, under motion number M/17220/2025, maintains the bail terms initially proposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The key conditions for Malami's temporary release include the surrender of his international passport to the court and the provision of two sureties. The court specified that these sureties must be the Director-General of the Nigerian Legal Aid Council and a serving member of the House of Representatives representing the Augie/Argungu Federal Constituency in Kebbi State.
Justice Kawu also reactivated bail conditions that were previously fulfilled on November 28, 2025, ensuring all legal requirements for Malami's provisional freedom are properly documented. The judge stated that the bail was granted on grounds of exceptional hardship, pending the full hearing and determination of the substantive motion.
New Date for Substantive Hearing
The court has now fixed January 5, 2026, for the comprehensive hearing of the substantive motion. This date provides both Malami's legal team, led by counsel Bello Doka, and the prosecution from the EFCC adequate time to prepare their full arguments.
This development follows Malami's arrest by the anti-graft agency on December 8, 2025. The former minister was detained after he initially failed to meet the bail conditions set by the EFCC, leading to his stay in custody.
Background of the Allegations
The EFCC's investigation of the former AGF revolves around several serious allegations. These include concerns related to terrorism financing, the duplication of legal representation in the recovery process of the $322.5 million Abacha loot, and issues surrounding the conditional cash transfer of the recovered funds.
However, in a statement issued by his media office on December 10, 2025, Malami dismissed many of the circulating reports. He insisted that his interaction with the EFCC was solely to clarify an allegation of duplication in the Abacha loot recovery during the Buhari administration.
Malami described allegations of terrorism financing, multiple bank accounts, or money laundering as false, misleading, and baseless. He asserted that no security or law-enforcement agency in Nigeria or abroad had ever accused or investigated him for terrorism financing.
Regarding the Abacha loot recovery, the former minister explained that a Swiss lawyer had reapplied for engagement in 2016, demanding 40% in professional fees. This offer was rejected because the Buhari administration had capped such fees at 5%.
The nation now awaits the full hearing on January 5, 2026, where these matters are expected to be thoroughly argued before Justice Bello Kawu's court.
