Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife, Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulazeez Malami, in correctional facilities following their re-arraignment on alleged ₦8.7 billion corruption charges.
The trio were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Abdulmalik, who directed that Malami and his son be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, while his wife was ordered to be taken to Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State.
The remand order came shortly after the defendants took their plea to the charges.
Malami’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, urged the court to allow the defendants to continue on the bail earlier granted by another judge of the same court, Justice Emeka Nwite.
“My Lord, the defendants were granted bail on January 7 by this honourable court, presided over by Justice Nwite, and the conditions have since been perfected,” Daudu submitted.
He argued that since the Federal High Court is one court, the existing bail should subsist “in the interest of justice and judicial consistency.”
However, counsel to the EFCC, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, acknowledged that bail had indeed been granted and perfected but maintained that the matter was now before a different judge.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the earlier proceedings before Justice Nwite had been legally terminated, thereby necessitating fresh bail applications.
“The proceedings before my learned brother have come to an end. Fresh applications must be made before this court,” the judge ruled.
She also declined an attempt by Daudu to move an oral application for bail, insisting that proper applications be filed.
Consequently, the court adjourned the matter until March 6 for hearing of the bail applications and commencement of trial.
It would be recalled that on January 7, Justice Nwite granted Malami, his wife and son bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with stringent conditions, including the submission of landed property documents and their international passports.
