Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja today granted former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his wife and son bail of ₦500 million each, with strict conditions including the submission of landed property documents and travelling papers.
Justice Nwite admitted the defendants to bail following their arraignment on a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. In his ruling, the judge ordered that each defendant must produce two sureties in like sum, and the sureties must own landed properties within Maitama, Asokoro or Gwarimpa districts of Abuja.
He directed that the title documents of the properties be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, while the sureties are also required to depose to affidavits of means. Malami was also ordered to deposit his international passport and other travel documents with the court and is prohibited from leaving the country without the court’s permission.
However the defendants and their sureties were directed to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registry, but Pending the perfection of their bail conditions, Justice Nwite ordered that Malami be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The court fixed February 17 for the commencement of the trial in the case.
