The heat intensified on Monday as a Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, admitted nine critical exhibits in the high-stakes trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.
The documents, tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), were accepted as Exhibits D1 to D9, marking a significant step in the prosecution’s case over an alleged N8.7 billion money laundering scandal.
Malami and his co-defendants are facing an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, concealment, and laundering of illicit funds, in alleged violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The exhibits were presented through the fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, who told the court how the bank responded to EFCC requests by supplying detailed account records linked to the defendants and associated firms.
Under examination by lead counsel J. S. Okutepa, SAN, the witness confirmed that the documents spanned transactions between July 2024 and March 2026, covering accounts tied to entities such as Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, Nashab Limited, Golden Age Global Ventures, and Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
Despite initial objections from defence counsel J. B. Daudu, SAN, questioning the timing of the documents, the court admitted all nine exhibits.
Providing a breakdown, the witness revealed sweeping financial movements across the accounts.
He identified Exhibit D1 as containing account opening details and statements for Malami and A.A. Mal
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