Absence of Malami’s lawyer stalls N8.7bn money laundering trial

The absence of Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN, counsel to Abubakar Malami, in court on Friday stalled the ongoing trial of the former Minister of Justice charged with N8.7 billion money laundering offence.

Our correspondent reports that Malami, who was also the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), is charged alongside his wife, Hajiya Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz, by the EFCC.

The matter, which was fixed for continuation of trial before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, could not proceed because Daudu was not in court.

Although the EFCC lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, was in court, including the defendants, their lawyer was absent.

It was, however, learnt that Daudu had earlier written to the court seeking an adjournment of the case.

In view of the development, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until June 23 for continuation of trial.

NAN reports that two prosecution witnesses had, on March 16, told the court how millions of Naira were paid into companies’ accounts linked to Malami, Asabe and Abdulaziz.

The trio are standing trial on a 16-count money laundering charges involving N8. 7 billion.

The anti-graft agency had, on March 6, opened its case against the defendants by calling its 1st prosecution witness (PW-1), David Ajoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank.

Malami, his wife and son were re-arraigned on Feb. 27 over alleged money laundering charge but pleaded not guilty.

They were, thereafter, remanded in Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres before their bail application was heard.

Justice Abdulmalik, on March 6, admitted them to a N200 million bail each with two sureties each in like sum.

The judge ordered that one of the sureties shall deposit his or her title deeds of a landed property located at Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, to the registrar of the court.

The judge, who ordered the defendants to also deposit their international passports with the court, had since perfected their bail conditions.