Alleged N8.7bn Fraud: EFCC Witnesses Reveal Bank Transactions Linking Malami’s Wife, Son

The trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his wife, Asabe Rakiya Bashir, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, continued on Monday, March 16, 2026, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting the defendants on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities to the tune of N8,713,923,759.49 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo), contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, prosecution counsel, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, presented Daniel Simon Kwayil, a compliance officer with Union Bank as Prosecution Witness Two (PW2).

After taking his oath, Kwayil told the court that the bank received a letter from the EFCC in 2025 requesting documents relating to Meethaq Hotels Limited, including a forwarding letter, certificate of compliance, account opening package and statement of account of the company with account number 0179011105.

When asked if he could recognise the documents, the witness confirmed that he could identify them, adding that the letter was dated December 23, 2025, on a Union Bank letterhead.

Okutepa then sought to tender the documents as evidence.

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Responding, defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, said he had no objection for the time being but reserved the right to raise one if necessary.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently admitted the documents in evidence and marked them as Exhibit B series.

Led further in evidence, the witness was asked to refer to page 37 of the statement of account.

According to him, on February 5, 2024, there was a payment of N14 million by instant transfer to Abubakar Malami on the order of Meethaq Hotels Limited.

He further stated that on March 4, 2024, there was another transfer of N24 million in favour of Abubakar Malami from Meethaq Hotels Limited.

The witness added that on February 3, 2024, another N24 million was transferred to A.A. Malami and Co on the order of Meethaq Hotels Limited.

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Kwayil also told the court that on May 3, 2024, as reflected on page 38, there was a transfer of N12,500,000 in favour of A.A. Malami.

When asked who the signatory to the account of Meethaq Hotels Limited was, the witness replied:

“The sole signatory to Meethaq Hotels Limited is Asabe Rakiya Bashir.” He identified the second defendant, Asabe Rakiya Bashir, in the dock and told the court that her identification card appeared on pages 11 and 12 of the account opening documents.

He also noted that the board resolution on page 10 made her the sole signatory to the account.

Further testifying, Kwayil said the statement of account of Meethaq Hotels Limited spanned pages 34 to 41, showing both inflows and outflows.

According to him, on November 3, 2022, the account received two deposits of N1,745,242.73 and N21,202,209.36.

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He said on November 8, 2022, the account received N685,200.00 and N685,400.

The witness added that on November 18, 2022, the account received N1,047,019.55.

He further told the court that on November 28, 2022, the account received N10 million twice from YMB Energy Limited.

Continuing, he said on December 2, 2022, the account received N4,565,320.58, while on December 5, 2022, it received N4,828,880.56.

Kwayil also stated that on December 20, 2022, there was an inflow of N1,83,686.44 into the account.

According to him, on January 10, 2023, the account received N43,177,453.94, and another N4,650,781.50 on the same day.

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