The ongoing N8.7 billion money laundering trial involving Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, was on Friday stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja following the absence of Joseph Daudu (SAN), his lead counsel.
Malami is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside his wife, Hajiya Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz Malami, on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving N8.7 billion.
The matter, scheduled for continuation of trial before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, could not proceed despite the presence of Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), prosecution counsel, and the defendants in court.
Counsel to the defendants was said to have written to the court earlier, requesting an adjournment.
Following the development, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned proceedings until June 23 for the continuation of the trial.
The anti-graft agency had opened its case on March 6 with the testimony of David Ajoma, a compliance officer with Sterling Bank, who appeared as the first prosecution witness.
At the resumed hearing on March 16, two prosecution witnesses testified on alleged inflows of millions of naira into company accounts said to be linked to Malami, his wife and son.
The defendants were re-arraigned on February 27 and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
They were subsequently remanded at the Kuje and Suleja correctional facilities pending the determination of their bail applications.
Justice Abdulmalik later granted each defendant bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered that one of the sureties must provide title documents for a landed property located in either Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja.
The defendants were also directed to deposit their international passports with the court.
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