The ongoing trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as a prosecution witness unveiled a trail of multi-million-naira transactions that allegedly passed through one of the companies linked to the ₦8.7 billion money laundering case against the former minister, his wife and son.
Testifying before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Munawwarah Salisu Anas, a Compliance Officer with Jaiz Bank Plc, detailed a series of substantial deposits, transfers and withdrawals involving Alkausar Farm, one of the entities under scrutiny in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) prosecution of Malami and members of his family.
Malami, alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, is facing a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, concealing, disguising and laundering proceeds of alleged unlawful activities valued at ₦8,713,923,759.49, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The witness, who appeared as the fifth prosecution witness (PW5), told the court that part of her responsibilities at Jaiz Bank includes liaising with law enforcement agencies and responding to requests for financial records during investigations.
Led in evidence by EFCC lead counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), Anas confirmed that the bank received correspondence from the anti-graft agency requesting documents relating to accounts connected to the investigation. She stated that the bank responded through a letter dated February 4, 2026, addressed to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC.
Despite defence counsel Adedayo Adedeji (SAN) reserving objections until the final address stage, Justice Abdulmalik admitted the bank’s response and accompanying records into evidence, marking them as Exhibit E Series.
Explaining the contents of the exhibit, the witness said the documents comprised the forwarding letter, certificate of identification, account opening records and statements of account belonging to Alkausar Farm.
As proceedings intensified, the witness painstakingly walked the court through transactions recorded in the account, exposing a pattern of high-value movements of funds.
According to her testimony, the account received a cash deposit of ₦1 million from Hassan Aliyu on June 13, 2018. On June 20 of the same year, another cash deposit of ₦2.25 million was made by Aliyu Mohammed.
More striking, however, were transactions recorded on December 7, 2018, when the account allegedly received four separate transfers of ₦10 million each and an additional ₦8 million transfer from Kalamu Wahid Global Concept, amounting to ₦48 million in a single day.
The witness further disclosed that less than two weeks later, on December 18, 2018, a transfer debit of ₦45.5 million was made from the account to Donaliv Global Nigeria Limited.
The court also heard that on July 13, 2020, Alkausar Farm received ₦26.25 million from Al-Afiya Energy Limited, followed by another ₦26.25 million transfer from the same company on July 22, 2020.
Barely two days later, on July 24, 2020, the account recorded a transfer debit of ₦50 million to Sahad Stores Limited and another transfer of ₦1 million to Alfagai Jewelry Nigeria Limited.
Continuing her testimony, Anas revealed that the account received a transfer credit of ₦2.03 million on August 12, 2020, while a cheque withdrawal of the same amount was subsequently made by one Aliyu Mohammed Hassan.
The disclosures formed part of a broader evidentiary presentation by the prosecution, which alleges that vast sums of money were moved through multiple accounts and corporate entities in a sophisticated network of transactions designed to disguise the origin and ownership of funds allegedly derived from unlawful activities.
The witness also came under cross-examination by defence counsel, who sought to establish the basis of her testimony and knowledge of the transactions.
When asked whether she knew the purpose behind the inflows and outflows reflected in the bank statements, Anas responded that financial institutions are mandated to monitor customer transactions and report suspicious activities to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
“We know because we monitor and report to the NFIU if the transactions are suspicious,” she told the court.
Following the completion of cross-examination and the absence of any re-examination by the prosecution, the witness was discharged.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until July 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.
The latest testimony adds to a growing body of evidence being presented by the EFCC in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched corruption and money laundering trials involving a former chief law officer of the federation.
Malami, his wife and son were re-arraigned on February 27, 2026, on the amended 16-count charge and all pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Following their arraignment, the defendants were initially remanded at the Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres pending the determination of their bail applications.
On March 6, 2026, Justice Abdulmalik granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties in like sum. The court further ordered that one surety for each defendant must provide title documents to landed property situated in either Maitama or Asokoro District of Abuja.
The defendants were also directed to surrender their international passports to the court pending the conclusion of the trial.
With fresh banking records now before the court and witnesses continuing to unveil details of financial transactions linked to companies allegedly connected to the defendants, the prosecution appears determined to establish what it describes as an elaborate scheme involving the concealment and laundering of billions of naira.
The defendants, however, continue to maintain their innocence as the legal battle moves into its next phase.