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.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the alleged leader of a kidnap gang and an accomplice responsible for the 2023 abduction and murder of renowned neurology professor, Ekanem Philip Ephraim.

A credible security source confirmed that 23-year-old Patrick Essien Etim, identified as the gang leader, and 40-year-old Bassey Antiha Asuquo were apprehended on December 27 at a medical facility in Cross River State.

The duo were reportedly plotting to kidnap another prominent medical professional when DSS operatives swooped in.

The arrests bring a major breakthrough in the case that has haunted the medical community for over two years. Prof. Ephraim was abducted on July 13, 2023, by gunmen posing as patients at her private clinic on Atimbo Road, Calabar.

Her kidnapping triggered widespread protests and an indefinite strike by the Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), which paralyzed the health sector for over a week as doctors demanded government action for her rescue.

According to the source, the DSS had been intensively tracking the syndicate since the professor’s abduction. The suspects have confessed to killing Prof. Ephraim after receiving multiple ransom payments from her family. They also admitted to involvement in other kidnappings and the vandalism of electricity cables, with a third suspect, Isaac Ekpeyong, arrested in connection to these crimes.

“It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the professor. I believe that with this arrest, her family and loved ones will finally have some peace and the much-needed closure they deserve,” the source stated.

The development underscores the DSS’s renewed focus on covert operations and restoring public safety, the source added.

Investigations are ongoing, with the suspects expected to face prosecution.

Obinwanne Okeke, the Nigerian businessman popularly known as Invictus Obi, has been released from United States federal prison after serving approximately six years for his involvement in an $11 million internet fraud scheme, multiple reports confirmed on Thursday.

Records from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator indicate that Okeke is listed as “Not in BOP Custody as of: 12/23/2025,” signaling his exit from federal incarceration ahead of his original projected release date of September 3, 2028.

Okeke, 38, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in February 2021 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The charges stemmed from a sophisticated business email compromise (BEC) scheme between 2015 and 2019, where he and associates used phishing tactics to divert funds, including a major interception targeting Unatrac Holding Limited, a UK-based exporter linked to Caterpillar Inc.

Prosecutors described the operation as causing “staggering losses of about $11 million” to victims through impersonation and computer hacking.

His early release is widely attributed to good conduct credits and provisions under the First Step Act, a U.S. criminal justice reform law that allows sentence reductions for certain non-violent offenders.

Reports from outlets including Linda Ikeji’s Blog, Peoples Gazette, and BusinessDay indicate that deportation proceedings to Nigeria are underway, consistent with his non-U.S. citizen status and the terms of his plea agreement. As his crimes were federal, a transfer to state custody is considered unlikely.

Once hailed as a rising star in African entrepreneurship, Okeke founded the Invictus Group, claiming investments in construction, agriculture, oil and gas, telecommunications, and real estate across Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.

In 2016, he was featured on Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list, celebrated for his purported success story from humble beginnings.

His 2019 arrest by the FBI at Dulles International Airport as he attempted to leave the U.S. marked a dramatic fall, sparking widespread discussions on cybercrime, the allure of quick wealth, and scrutiny of young Nigerian entrepreneurs.

With his release, questions now focus on Okeke’s future: potential supervised release conditions in the U.S., his return to Nigeria, and any ongoing restrictions.

No official statement has been issued by U.S. authorities or Okeke’s representatives regarding the exact terms of his release.

The case continues to highlight global efforts to combat BEC scams, which remain a significant threat to businesses worldwide.