Compliance officers from two major commercial banks testified on Monday in the ongoing alleged N8.7bn fraud trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his wife, Asabe Rakiya Bashir, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.
The officials, who appeared as witnesses for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), tendered associated bank statements before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The EFCC is prosecuting the defendants on an amended 16-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities to the tune of N8,713,923,759.49.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, prosecution counsel, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, presented Daniel Simon Kwayil, a compliance officer with Union Bank, according to a statement by the EFCC.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently admitted the documents in evidence and marked them as Exhibit B series.
Kwayil said the statement of account of Meethaq Hotels Limited spanned pages 34 to 41, showing both inflows and outflows involving multiple millions of naira.
Under cross-examination by J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness told the court that he joined the bank in August 2014.
He confirmed that he was not the relationship manager of the Meethaq Hotels account but added that his office had supervisory responsibilities covering Abuja, Niger, and Nasarawa.
The witness also confirmed meeting Malami’s wife at the Maitama branch where the account was opened but could not remember the exact date.
The witness was subsequently discharged.
The prosecution then called Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with another commercial bank.
Egoro told the court that in 2025, the bank received a request from the EFCC for documents relating to Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Nigeria Limited, with account number 1383843226, and Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative.
Okutepa drew the court’s attention to the list of witnesses attached to the charge, which included representatives from several banks.
Daudu subsequently reserved his objection.
The witness then narrated the inflows and outflows on the identified bank accounts.
Under cross-examination, Daudu asked how the witness came to testify in court.
Egoro responded that the EFCC invited him through his bank and not through a subpoena.
The witness added that he did not know the purpose of the payments reflected in the account statements.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until April 20, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
The development comes weeks after reports emerged that Malami, who served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, is under investigation for 18 alleged offences, including money laundering and abuse of office.
However, the EFCC has denied the allegations, insisting that it is not acting in a partisan manner.