A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his son Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications on January 2, 2026.

The defendants were arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Emeka Nwite on a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). All three pleaded not guilty to the charges, which involve conspiracy to conceal, retain, and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to billions of naira.

The alleged offences, said to have occurred between 2015 and 2025, include using corporate entities and bank accounts to launder funds, retaining large sums of cash as collateral for loans, and acquiring high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, Kebbi, and other locations.

Some of the acts are alleged to have taken place during Malami’s tenure as Nigeria’s chief law officer, contravening the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.

Specific counts include the concealment of over ₦1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025, and the use of illicit funds to purchase luxury properties in Abuja districts such as Maitama and Asokoro.

Following the not-guilty pleas, defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) made an oral application for bail. However, EFCC prosecutor Ekele Iheanacho (SAN) opposed it, noting that a written bail application had been served on the prosecution late the previous night and requesting time to respond.

Justice Nwite ruled that pursuing both oral and written applications simultaneously would undermine fair hearing principles and potentially “ambush” the prosecution.

He declined the oral request and adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for the formal bail hearing, ordering the defendants’ remand in Kuje Correctional Centre in the interim.

Malami had been in EFCC custody since early December following investigations into the allegations.

The case marks a significant development in the anti-graft agency’s probe into suspected financial irregularities linked to the former minister.

• A power generation site

The Nigeria Independent System Operator (NISO) has restored the national grid to 2,126 megawatts (Mw) total energy generation at 20:00 hour.

The previous day,there was a nationwide blackout as the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) recorded 0Mw total energy generation at 16:00 hour.

NISO also raised the total energy sent to the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to 1,895Mw at 21:02 hours.

The grid developed issues that the NISO was yet to report its cause and restoration measures at press time, leading to the cut in the supply to the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) from the average of 4,000MW on a normal day.

According to the NISO website dashboard, the system dipped from 148.30MW at 15:00 hour.

On its distribution profile, the NISO revealed that total energy sent to the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) at 16:46hour was 305MW.

Image of the six suspects / NAF

In furtherance of ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal and terrorist activities within its Area of Responsibility (AOR), the Headquarters Joint Task Force South West, Operation AWATSE, has conducted a joint multi-component kinetic and non-kinetic operation code-named Operation EMBER Guard.

The operation, aimed at strengthening public confidence and enhancing inter-agency cooperation, led to a successful raid on a suspected drug den located along Idinmu Road, Egbeda, Lagos State, on 28 December 2025 at about 2300 hours.

During the operation, six suspects were arrested in connection with illegal drug-related activities.

The suspects include Okoduwa Odianose (38, Edo State), Obagede Abraham (25, Osun State), Abdulahi Umate (18, Borno State), Bala Abdullahi (18, Kano State), Mallah Umate (18, Borno State), and Habeeb Badmus (34, Kwara State).

The Items recovered from the suspects include three pieces of crack cocaine, 29 packs of ice, six bottles of codeine, 70 pieces of loud, six wraps of backwood, three small wraps of backwood, two wraps of Russian cream, 49 pieces of colos, two pieces of rohypnol, as well as other personal belongings.

The suspects and recovered exhibits were subsequently handed over to the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Command, on 29 December 2025 at the Nigerian Air Force 651 Base Services Group(BSG) 3 Provost, Sam Ethnan AirForce Base, Ikeja, Lagos for further investigation and prosecution.

The Theater Commander, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation AWATSE, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha was ably represented by the Commander 651 BSG, Air Commodore IM Imam who handed over the suspects to NDLEA officials.

The Commander 651 BSG reiterated the operation’s commitment to sustaining joint operations with relevant security agencies to curb criminality and ensure the safety and security of lives and property within the South West region.