Bank Official Testifies In N8.7bn Fraud Case Against Ex-AGF Malami, Reveals Multiple Transactions

The trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, continued on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness detailing several high-value transactions linked to one of the entities allegedly connected to the N8.7 billion money laundering case against him.

The witness, Munawwarah Salisu Anas, a Compliance Officer with Jaiz Bank Plc, appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik as the fifth prosecution witness (PW5) in the ongoing trial involving Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.

The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procurement, concealment, disguising and laundering of alleged proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to N8,713,923,759.49.

At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for continuation of trial and subsequently called Anas to testify.

While being led in evidence, the witness explained that her duties as a compliance officer include liaising with law enforcement agencies, including the EFCC, on account-related investigations and regulatory matters.

She told the court that Jaiz Bank received a request from the anti-graft agency seeking documents relating to an account operated by Alkausar Farm. According to her, the bank responded through a letter dated February 4, 2026, addressed to the EFCC Chairman.

Okutepa thereafter sought to tender the bank’s response and accompanying account documents as evidence. Although defence counsel, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, reserved his objections for the final written address stage, Justice Abdulmalik admitted the documents and marked them as Exhibit E Series.

Explaining the contents of the exhibit, Anas said: “Page one is the forwarding letter, page two is the certificate of identification, pages three to twenty-five are the account opening documents, while pages twenty-six to thirty are the statement of account of Alkausar Farm.”

The witness subsequently highlighted several transactions reflected in the account statement.

According to her, the account received a cash deposit of N1 million from Hassan Aliyu on June 13, 2018, and another cash deposit of N2.25 million from Aliyu Mohammed on June 20, 2018.

She further testified that on December 7, 2018, the account recorded multiple inflows from Kalamu Wahid Global Concept, including four separate transfers of N10 million each and an additional transfer of N8 million on the same day.

Anas also informed the court that on December 18, 2018, a transfer of N45.5 million was made from the account to Donaliv Global Nigeria Limited.

Continuing her testimony, the bank official disclosed that Alkausar Farm received N26.25 million from Al-Afiya Energy Limited on July 13, 2020, and another N26.25 million from the same company on July 22, 2020.

She added that the account subsequently recorded a transfer of N50 million to Sahad Stores Limited and another transfer of N1 million to Alfagai Jewelry Nigeria Limited on July 24, 2020.

The witness further told the court that the account received a transfer credit of N2.03 million on August 12, 2020, while a cheque withdrawal of the same amount was made on the same day by one Aliyu Mohammed Hassan.

During cross-examination, defence counsel questioned the witness on her knowledge of the transactions and whether she appeared in court pursuant to a subpoena.

Responding, Anas confirmed that she was not subpoenaed to testify. When asked if she knew the purpose of the inflows and outflows reflected in the account statement, she replied: “Yes, we know because we monitor and report to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) if the transactions are suspicious.”

Following the conclusion of cross-examination and the absence of any re-examination by the prosecution, the court discharged the witness.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until July 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.