The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Friday, re-arraigned former AGF Abubakar Malami, his wife, Asabe Bashir and son, Abdulaziz, on money laundering offences.

They were re-arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, following the reassignment of the case to a new trial judge.

Upon resumed hearing, EFCC’s lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the defendants’ re-arraignment.

“The matter is coming before your lordship this morning for the very first time. I will be applying for the plea of the defendants to be taken,” he said.

Mr Okutepa equally applied that the sums listed in counts 11 and 12 be corrected to read N325 million instead of N325 billion for count 11, and N120 million instead of N120 billion for count 12.

After the defence lawyer, Joseph Daudu, did not oppose it, Ms Abdulmalik granted Mr Okutepa’s oral application.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts preferred against them by the anti-graft agency bordering on money laundering.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu had, on February 12, withdrawn from the case shortly after the EFCC’s civil case was brought to him.

The case was formerly before Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as a vacation judge during the Christmas/New Year break.

After the vacation period, the chief judge reassigned the cases to Mr Egwuatu, who had now recused himself, before they were reassigned to Ms Abdulmalik.

The ex-AGF, his wife and son were earlier arraigned before Mr Nwite on December 30, 2025, on the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025.

While Mr Malami and son were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, the wife was remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre before they were admitted to N500 million bail each, on January 7, with two sureties each in the like sum.

(NAN)