The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and a co-defendant, Hajia Bashir Asabe, in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail application.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on the oral bail application made by their lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, held that it would be in the interest of justice and fair hearing to allow the prosecution respond to the earlier bail application filed by the defence.
“I have listened to the submissions of the learned counsel of both divide and also gone through the relevant laws.
“It is not in dispute that an application for bail has been filed by the defendants.
“It is also not in dispute that the bail application has been served on the prosecution.
“It is not in dispute that, that application cannot be withdrawn by the defendants,” he said.
Justice Nwite said that though the court could exercise its power by granting a bail, he said such had to be made after the prosecution had responded to the bail application earlier filed.
According to the judge, it will amount to an ambush for the court to grant the bail application while the prosecution has not responded.
“This will breach the right to fair hearing against the prosecution.
“I am of the view that the interest of justice will be met by allowing the prosecution to respond to the bail application filed,” he said.
Justice Nwite, who ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications, adjourned the matter until January 2 for hearing.
The EFCC had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, named the ex-minister, Hajia Bashir Asabe and Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively in the money laundering case.
Source: NAN
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