The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday re-arraigned Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation, alongside his wife Asabe Bashir and son Abdulaziz over alleged money laundering offences.
The defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja following the reassignment of the case to a new trial judge.
They pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge filed by the anti-graft agency.
Jibrin Okutepa, EFCC counsel, told the court the matter was appearing before the judge for the first time and requested that the defendants’ pleas be taken.
He said, “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.”
Okutepa also applied for corrections in Counts 11 and 12, asking the court to change the figures to N325 million instead of N325 billion and N120 million instead of N120 billion, an application that was not opposed by defence counsel Joseph Daudu.
Justice Abdulmalik granted the request.
Meanwhile, the case was previously handled by Justice Emeka Nwite and later reassigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who withdrew before the matter was eventually reassigned to Justice Abdulmalik.
Malami and his son were earlier remanded at Kuje correctional centre while Asabe Bashir was remanded at Suleja correctional centre before they were granted N500 million bail each with two sureties in like sum on January 7.
