Malami and his co-defendants are also to deposit their travelling documents with the court and must not travel out of the country without permission.
By Kehinde Okeowo
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted the former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife, Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz, bail in the sum of N200 million each, pending their trial for N8.7 billion money laundering charges brought against them by the Federal Government.
The bail applications were argued on Friday by Joseph Daudu (SAN) on behalf of the three defendants. Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), appearing for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), did not oppose the request.
In granting the application, Justice Abdulmalik ordered Malami and his co-defendants to provide two sureties each to stand for them in the same amount.
These sureties must own developed landed properties in Maitama or Asokoro; their documents are to be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court after they have deposed to an affidavit of means.
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The judge further mandated that the three defendants deposit their travelling documents and prohibited them from leaving the country without the court’s permission.
Both the defendants and their sureties were also ordered to submit two recent passport photographs to the court.
Pending the perfection of their bail conditions, Justice Abdulmalik ordered Malami and his son to be remanded in Kuje Prison, while his wife is to be held at Suleja Prison in Niger State.
The trial for the corruption charges is scheduled to commence on 16 March.
