The judge gave the warning during proceedings in the criminal case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged money laundering running into billions of naira.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, issued a warning to lawyers and litigants involved in the ongoing trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, cautioning them against attempting to approach him for any form of favour.
The judge gave the warning during proceedings in the criminal case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged money laundering running into billions of naira.
Justice Nwite stressed that his perceived familiarity with members of the Bar should not be misconstrued as an opportunity for undue influence.
“I want to admonish and warn counsels and litigants that they should know the type of court they are appearing before. All judges are not the same. Irrespective of my familiarity with you, when I am dealing with any case, do not approach me,” the judge said.
According to him, the only legitimate way lawyers could serve their clients was through diligent legal representation, not backdoor contacts or personal appeals.
“The best you can do for your clients is to get the best lawyers in this country. The law cannot be bent as far as this court is concerned,” he added.
Justice Nwite further warned that any attempt to compromise the integrity of the court or tarnish his name would be firmly resisted.
“So, I want to warn each and every litigant and lawyer appearing before this court that they should understand the way this court works. Please, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Any attempt to tarnish my name will be resisted and dealt with. I warned, I warned, and I warned!” he declared.
The EFCC is prosecuting Malami alongside his wife and son over alleged money laundering offences involving the sum of ₦8,713,923,759.49.
The anti-graft agency accused the defendants of conspiring to procure, disguise, conceal, and launder proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The trio were arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy and various forms of money laundering.
In one of the charges, the EFCC alleged that Malami and his son, between July 2022 and June 2025 in Abuja, procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of ₦1,014,848,500.00 lodged in a Sterling Bank Plc account, funds they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Another count accused Malami, his son, and his wife, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, of conspiring in September 2024 to disguise the origin of ₦1,049,173,926.13 paid through the Union Bank account of Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, between November 2022 and September 2024.
The EFCC also alleged that Malami and his son indirectly took control of ₦1,362,887,872.96 paid through the Union Bank savings account of Meethaq Hotels Limited between November 2022 and October 2025, knowing or having reason to know that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.
Meanwhile, earlier in the proceedings, Justice Nwite granted Malami, his wife, and son bail in the sum of ₦500 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties, the court ruled, must depose to affidavits of means.