•Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (middle)
A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the bank account linked to Rayhan Hotels was operated by the son of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
The witness, David Ajoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank, testified that Malami’s son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, is the sole signatory to the Rayhan Hotels account, while one Aliyu Mohammed is the signatory to the account of Metropolitan Autotech Limited, reports Saturday Guardian.
Ajoma, who is the first prosecution witness in the ongoing N8.7 billion money laundering trial, also told the court that the former AGF was neither a signatory nor involved in transactions carried out through the companies’ accounts.
He further stated that Malami’s name did not appear in the account opening documents of Rayhan Hotels and Metropolitan Autotech Limited, adding that neither the former minister nor his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, featured in any of the transactions recorded in the accounts.
While giving evidence before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the witness tendered a 214-page bank statement detailing inflows and outflows from the companies’ accounts. The documents were admitted in evidence as “Exhibit A Series.”
Ajoma explained that the bank records showed several payments running into millions of naira made into the accounts by individuals and corporate bodies at different times.
He also disclosed that an application for a N500 million loan facility was submitted to Sterling Bank by Abdulaziz in his capacity as Managing Director of Rayhan Hotels.
The witness further told the court that none of the payments into the accounts came from the Federal Ministry of Justice, the EFCC, the National Human Rights Commission or any agency under Malami’s supervision when he served as AGF.
According to him, the bank did not report any suspicious transaction to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit because none of the transactions breached the regulations of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The testimony was given during cross-examination by defence counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).
Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and Hajia Bashir Asabe are standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving N8.7 billion.
They were said to have committed the various alleged offences between November 2015 and June 2025.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired to conceal proceeds of unlawful activities and used the funds to acquire several properties in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and other locations.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case until March 16 for a witness from Union Bank of Nigeria to testify.
