News
Alleged N8.7bn scam: EFCC witnesses uncover Bank transactions linking Malami’s Wife, Son
The trial of ex- Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, alongside his wife, Asabe Rakiya Bashir, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, continued on Monday, March 16, 2026, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting the defendants on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities to the tune of N8,713,923,759.49 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo), contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, prosecution counsel, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, presented Daniel Simon Kwayil, a compliance officer with Union Bank as Prosecution Witness Two (PW2).
After taking his oath, Kwayil told the court that the bank received a letter from the EFCC in 2025 requesting documents relating to Meethaq Hotels Limited, including a forwarding letter, certificate of compliance, account opening package and statement of account of the company with account number 0179011105.
When asked if he could recognise the documents, the witness confirmed that he could identify them, adding that the letter was dated December 23, 2025, on a Union Bank letterhead.
Okutepa then sought to tender the documents as evidence.
Responding, defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, said he had no objection for the time being but reserved the right to raise one if necessary.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently admitted the documents in evidence and marked them as Exhibit B series.
Led further in evidence, the witness was asked to refer to page 37 of the statement of account.
According to him, on February 5, 2024, there was a payment of N14 million by instant transfer to Abubakar Malami on the order of Meethaq Hotels Limited.
He further stated that on March 4, 2024, there was another transfer of N24 million in favour of Abubakar Malami from Meethaq Hotels Limited.
The witness added that on February 3, 2024, another N24 million was transferred to A.A. Malami and Co on the order of Meethaq Hotels Limited.
Kwayil also told the court that on May 3, 2024, as reflected on page 38, there was a transfer of N12,500,000 in favour of A.A. Malami.
When asked who the signatory to the account of Meethaq Hotels Limited was, the witness replied:
“The sole signatory to Meethaq Hotels Limited is Asabe Rakiya Bashir.” He identified the second defendant, Asabe Rakiya Bashir, in the dock and told the court that her identification card appeared on pages 11 and 12 of the account opening documents.
He also noted that the board resolution on page 10 made her the sole signatory to the account.
Further testifying, Kwayil said the statement of account of Meethaq Hotels Limited spanned pages 34 to 41, showing both inflows and outflows.
According to him, on November 3, 2022, the account received two deposits of N1,745,242.73 and N21,202,209.36.
He said on November 8, 2022, the account received N685,200.00 and N685,400.
The witness added that on November 18, 2022, the account received N1,047,019.55.
He further told the court that on November 28, 2022, the account received N10 million twice from YMB Energy Limited.
Continuing, he said on December 2, 2022, the account received N4,565,320.58, while on December 5, 2022, it received N4,828,880.56.
Kwayil also stated that on December 20, 2022, there was an inflow of N1,83,686.44 into the account.
According to him, on January 10, 2023, the account received N43,177,453.94, and another N4,650,781.50 on the same day.
He added that on January 17, 2023, the account received N915,540.84, while on February 12, 2023, it received N25,483,054.24, all transfers from Meethaq Hotels Limited.
The witness further stated that on March 3, 2025, there was an inflow of N11,166,235.10 from Meethaq Hotels Limited.
He added that on March 14, 2023, the account received N118,814.64.
According to him, on April 3, 2023, another inflow of N13,388,808.38 was recorded from Meethaq Limited account II, while on April 14, 2023, the account received N158,066.73.
Under cross-examination by J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness told the court that he joined Union Bank in August 2014.
He confirmed that he was not the relationship manager of the Meethaq Hotels account, adding that his office had supervisory responsibilities covering Abuja, Niger and Nasarawa.
Asked how he got to know the second defendant, he said he met her at the Maitama branch where the account was opened, but could not remember the exact date.
He also stated that he requested to see her physically to confirm whether she was the person on the identification card.
When asked if he knew A.A. Malami and Co, the witness, said he knew it belonged to the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Asked whether the transactions were commercial in nature, he responded:
“I don’t know because I’m not a party and I don’t know the purpose of the transaction.”
With no re-examination, the witness was discharged.
The prosecution then called Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, as Prosecution Witness Three (PW3).
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 with account number 0828310158.
He said the documents included forwarding letters, certificates of identification, account opening documents, loan offer letter, memorandum of acceptance and statements of account.
According to him, the correspondences were dated February 6 and February 9, 2026.
When the prosecution sought to tender the documents, Daudu objected, arguing that he had not seen the witness’s statement and needed to confirm whether he was testifying on subpoena.
Okutepa, however, drew the court’s attention to the list of witnesses attached to the charge, noting that representatives from several banks, including Access Bank, GTBank and Sterling Bank, were listed.
He cited Section 378 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in support of the prosecution’s position.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that since the witness’s bank was listed among those expected to testify, the defence could cross-examine him and request time to study his testimony if necessary.
Daudu subsequently reserved his objection.
The court thereafter admitted the documents in evidence and marked them as Exhibits C1 and C2.
Testifying on Exhibit C1, the witness said Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Nigeria Limited had a sole signatory, Abdulaziz Malami, which was reflected in the loan offer documents.
He added that the loan offer of N400 million was contained in pages 4 to 4E, including the acceptance letter.
Egoro told the court that the loan was disbursed on October 9, 2020, into the account of Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited and was fully repaid on July 14, 2022.
He further testified that on November 10, 2020, N100 million was transferred from the account to New Horizon Limited.
He added that on the same date, N10,575,360 was also transferred to the same company.
According to him, there were additional transfers of N20 million, N20 million, N20 million, N20 million, and N20 million to New Horizon Limited on the same day.
The witness also said that on October 9, 2020, the account received N400 million, being the principal disbursement under the loan facility.
He added that on the same day, there was a debit of N4 million as management fee and N300,000 as VAT.
He further stated that on November 10, 2020, there was a debit of N1,185,792.35 as main interest liquidation.
Testifying on Exhibit C2, relating to Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative, the witness said the signatories to the account were Abdulkadir Malami, Usman Gotomo Abubakar and Faruku Abubakar.
He said the first inflow into the account occurred on October 17, 2019, when N500,000 was paid by Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.
He added that another N500,000 was paid by the same person on October 23, 2019.
According to him, on October 28, 2019, the account received N1,720,00.
He further told the court that on October 29, 2019, Musa Yamilu Galadanci paid N1,500,000, while on October 30, 2019, Chimugu Surajo paid N1,200,000.
The witness said that on October 4, 2019, the account received N8 million from Afuwa Services Limited.
He added that on November 5, 2019, A.A. Funtua FX Limited paid N1 million, while on November 6, 2019, there was a cash deposit of N2 million by Faruku Madugu Gwandu.
He also stated that on November 27, 2019, N500 thousand was deposited by Aliyu Gwandu, while on November 28, 2019, Halliru Bala paid N2,500,000.
Egoro told the court that on January 29, 2020, Afuwa Integrated Services Limited paid N10 million, while on January 23, 2020, the same company paid N5 million and another N10 million.
He added that on February 18, 2020, Afuwa Integrated Services Limited paid N1,800,750, while Abdulhamid Ibrahim Ismail paid N5,250,000 on the same day.
According to him, on February 28, 2020, Moriks Global Enterprise paid N2 million, while Abdulshakur Abdulhamid paid N1,500,000 on March 3, 2020.
The witness stated that the total lodgment into the Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative account between October 17, 2019 and December 31, 2023 was N722,986,603.75.
He also told the court that the total lodgment into the Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Limited account between March 26, 2020 and January 31, 2025 was N1,857,978,100.
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.
Asked whether he was a staff of the EFCC, he said no, adding that he did not know the purpose of the payments reflected in the account statements.
With no re-examination from the prosecution, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter till April 20, 2026 for continuation of trial.
Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 31 abductees and neutralized two terrorists, including a suspected kingpin, during separate operations in Katsina and Kebbi states.
The military also arrested two suspected terrorists and recovered ammunition, a motorcycle, camouflage clothing and other items during the operations conducted on September 14 and 15, 2026.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16.
According to the statement, troops in Katsina rescued 10 kidnap victims, comprising three males and seven females, after responding to distress reports from Unguwan Daudu and Unguwan Chibauna communities in Funtua Local Government Area.
The troops reportedly launched a hot pursuit of the fleeing terrorists and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing them to abandon the victims.
Among those rescued was an infant.
The victims were subsequently taken into military custody for necessary assistance and further action.
21 Victims Rescued in Kebbi
Also on September 14, troops operating in Kebbi State responded to a distress call following the abduction of civilians from Fafala Village in Kangiwa Local Government Area.
Acting on intelligence, the troops launched a fighting patrol towards Fafala and Dandikwa, where they reportedly engaged the terrorists in a heavy exchange of gunfire.
The terrorists were forced to withdraw from the area, allowing the troops to continue their operation and rescue 21 kidnapped victims.
The rescued civilians were later reunited with their families.
Terrorist Kingpin Killed in Katsina
The following day, September 15, troops in Katsina reportedly foiled an attempted terrorist attack on communities in Matazu and Kankara local government areas.
Acting on intelligence, the troops moved towards a suspected terrorist hideout and engaged the group with superior firepower.
The military said two terrorists were killed during the encounter, including Abbah Alhassan, whom it identified as a known terrorist kingpin.
Other terrorists reportedly escaped into the surrounding bush.
Troops recovered 10 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle, a cutlass, camouflage clothing and suspected Indian hemp from the area.
Two Suspects Arrested
In another operation on September 15, troops arrested two suspected terrorists around the Yantumaki general area of Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Preliminary interrogation reportedly indicated that the suspects were associated with a suspected terrorist kingpin identified as Mannori.
The suspects remain in military custody while investigations continue.
The Joint Task Force said the operations demonstrate its continued efforts to rescue kidnapped civilians, disrupt terrorist networks and restrict the movement and operational freedom of armed groups across its area of responsibility.
The task force also commended residents for providing security-related information and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to the nearest security agency.
By Gloria Ikibah
The National Assembly has transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states for consideration and approval.
The transmission, carried out on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, marks the next stage in the ongoing constitutional alteration process and was undertaken pursuant to a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., said the Bill was transmitted to the state legislatures in compliance with the provisions of Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Under Section 9, a bill seeking to alter the Constitution cannot be passed by either chamber of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolutions of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states.
The state legislatures are therefore required to consider the proposed constitutional amendments in accordance with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their deliberations.
Although the Constitution does not stipulate a specific timeframe within which state Houses of Assembly must respond to a constitutional alteration bill, the National Assembly said the state legislatures are expected to communicate their decisions within 30 days of receiving the Bill.
The National Assembly, however, stressed that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and not a constitutional deadline.
According to the Clerk, the timeframe is intended to promote an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the constitutional amendment process while respecting the constitutional independence of the state legislatures.
What the Constitution Requires
Nigeria’s Constitution sets a deliberately high threshold for constitutional amendments because changes to the country’s supreme law require approval beyond the National Assembly alone.
In addition to the required approval by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, Section 9 prescribes other legislative requirements depending on the particular constitutional provisions being altered.
The process generally involves the introduction and passage of the alteration Bill by the National Assembly before it is transmitted to the state legislatures for consideration. The resolutions of the state assemblies are subsequently communicated to the National Assembly for the next stage of the process.
The requirement for state-level approval gives the 36 Houses of Assembly a constitutionally recognised role in determining whether proposed amendments can proceed.
The National Assembly said it recognises this responsibility and respects the independence of the state legislatures in considering the Bill.
National Assembly Seeks Coordinated Process
In the statement, the Clerk said the transmission was intended to facilitate the orderly discharge of the state assemblies’ constitutional responsibilities rather than interfere with their legislative processes.
“The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution,” the statement said.
It added that the process would be guided by due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of the legislature.
The National Assembly will await the resolutions of the 36 state Houses of Assembly before taking the subsequent steps required under the Constitution.
The transmission of the Sixth Alteration Bill comes amid continued efforts to amend aspects of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, a process that requires cooperation between the federal and state legislatures because of the constitutional threshold for altering the nation’s supreme law.
The statement was signed by Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., Clerk to the National Assembly.
News
REVEALED: 11 Nigerian-Born Lawyers Hit by U.S. Disciplinary Actions Over Professional Violations
At least 11 Nigerian-born lawyers practising or based in the United States have faced suspension or other disciplinary measures over alleged or established professional violations, according to disciplinary records cited in a report by The Peoples Gazette.
The cases span several years and involve different jurisdictions and regulatory bodies, including state bar authorities, U.S. immigration authorities and the Board of Immigration Appeals.
The disciplinary matters range from unauthorised practice of law and failure to meet professional obligations to alleged misrepresentation, neglect of clients’ cases and mishandling of client funds.
The sanctions are not identical, and the grounds for disciplinary action vary from one case to another. Some of the lawyers have also reportedly been reinstated, while others remain suspended or have not been reinstated.
Below is a summary of the lawyers and the disciplinary actions reported against them.
1. Aloysius O. Ejimakor
Aloysius O. Ejimakor was suspended from practising law in New York for nine months in 2004 following disciplinary proceedings over alleged false claims concerning his professional qualifications.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice document, the Office of General Counsel for the Executive Office for Immigration Review commenced proceedings against him in July 2003.
The proceedings alleged that Ejimakor violated federal regulations by making false statements concerning his qualifications.
The report states that he had not been reinstated following the suspension.
2. Abiola O. Adesioye
Abiola O. Adesioye, based in the District of Columbia, was suspended in July 2025 by the Board of Immigration Appeals from practising before the board, U.S. immigration courts and the Department of Homeland Security.
The suspension followed an order issued by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on March 25, 2025.
According to the report, disciplinary counsel for the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Department of Homeland Security jointly petitioned for her immediate suspension under applicable federal regulations.
The Board of Immigration Appeals granted the petition pending the final resolution of the disciplinary proceedings.
3. Emelike Nwosuocha
Emelike Nwosuocha, who died on July 21, 2024, aged 64, faced disciplinary proceedings before his death.
According to the report, he was posthumously suspended for three years in 2024 over professional misconduct.
The disciplinary matter included an alleged failure to provide an affidavit required under an earlier suspension and failure to pay attorney fees owed to a defendant in a medical negligence lawsuit.
In 2023, Nwosuocha had reportedly received a six-month suspension after failing to respond to a disciplinary grievance.
The relevant disciplinary authorities subsequently affirmed the suspension.
4. Michael Ozulumba
Michael Ozulumba, who is based in Massachusetts, was reportedly suspended from practising before the Internal Revenue Service and the Executive Office for Immigration Review for two years.
The reported disciplinary findings involved professional misconduct, neglect of client cases and misrepresentations.
However, the supplied material contains a reference to a 2027 board decision. Since that date is still in the future as of September 16, 2026, that portion requires independent verification and has therefore not been treated here as an established past event.
5. Michael Imevbore Ojo
Michael Imevbore Ojo, based in Houston, Texas, was suspended from practising law for 12 months by the Evidentiary Panel of the District 4C05 Grievance Committee of the State Bar of Texas.
The disciplinary action reportedly involved alleged violations of Texas professional conduct rules, including neglect, failure to communicate with clients and failure to cooperate with a State Bar investigation.
Troops rescue 31 abductees, neutralize terrorist kingpin in Katsina, Kebbi
NASS Transmits 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill to 36 State Assemblies
REVEALED: 11 Nigerian-Born Lawyers Hit by U.S. Disciplinary Actions Over Professional Violations
-
Metro17 hours agoNigerian Army Speaks of Possible Attacks on Churches, Schools
-
News17 hours agoSuspected Fulani Militias K!ll Christian Leader In Plateau
-
News13 hours agoPDP Warns APC Governors: ‘Ignore Wike at Your Own Peril’
-
News13 hours agoObi: Wike Was Happier, Healthier When We Worked Together
-
Opinion13 hours agoSurging Energy demands and challenges of Ai
-
Economy16 hours agoNigeria’s inflation falls to 15.39% as food inflation slows – NBS