Court admits nine exhibits in Malami's alleged money laundering trial
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
A Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted nine documentary exhibits in the alleged money laundering trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC is prosecuting the defendants on an amended 16-count charge involving conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities totaling N8,713,923,759.49. The exhibits, primarily banking documents, were tendered through Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, who testified as the fourth prosecution witness. Bata confirmed that the bank provided electronic and hard copies of documents related to accounts linked to the defendants and corporate entities, including Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited, Nashab Limited, Golden Age Global Ventures, and Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, in response to an EFCC request. The admitted documents, dated between July 19, 2024, and March 12, 2026, were marked as Exhibits D1 to D9. Defence counsel J. B. Daudu's objection to the dates of some documents was overruled. The witness detailed transactions, including significant credit inflows into one of Malami's accounts, such as N194,791,608 from New Horizons Limited on November 11, 2020, N622.5 million from Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited on June 24, 2022, and two N250 million inflows from Rayhaan Hotels
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 10 countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Two-time World Cup winner Cafu stated on Monday that he believes the 2026 World Cup presents the perfect opportunity for Brazil, five-time champions, to win the tournament for the first time in 24 years. Cafu, who captained Brazil to their fifth World Cup victory in 2002 and was part of the 1994 winning squad, noted that the addition of coach Carlo Ancelotti, described as a "serial winner," will enhance the team. He highlighted Ancelotti's focus on strengthening the defense, asserting that if Brazil avoids conceding goals, they are likely to score one per game. Cafu also expressed hope that Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior would have a strong tournament, viewing the World Cup as an ideal platform for him to overcome controversies and demonstrate his abilities. He also commented on the positive development of 19-year-old Endrick, suggesting his loan to Lyon helped him grow into a key player, and believes Ancelotti is considering him for the team. Bookmakers currently rank Brazil among the top five favorites for the tournament.
AFC Bournemouth has confirmed Marco Rose as their new head coach on a three-year deal, succeeding Andoni Iraola at the end of the current season. Rose, 49, previously managed RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Red Bull Salzburg, where he was known for aggressive pressing systems and developing young talent. The club stated that Rose is an experienced and highly respected head coach with a proven record in European football. Rose expressed excitement about the challenge of working in the Premier League, aiming to build on the club's progress and take it to the next level. Iraola will remain in charge until the end of the campaign, reflecting on his privilege to work at Bournemouth and focusing on finishing the season strongly. Bournemouth reportedly chose Rose due to his Champions League experience and track record of elevating teams, as they aim to consolidate their Premier League campaign with European qualification still possible.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus for the Nigeria Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State. This approval includes a special take-off grant of N15bn to fund the facility’s development. According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, this fulfills provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy Establishment Act, 2021, which allows the institution to operate as a multi-campus university. The N15bn intervention fund will be sourced from TETFund’s 2026 allocation and will finance priority infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation, and core training assets. The location in Erinja was recommended by a high-level consultative meeting involving the Minister of Police Affairs, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspector General of Police, and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission. This meeting considered student intake capacity, funding, academic quality, and the long-term training needs of the Nigerian Police Force. The Presidency stated that this expansion aims to strengthen institutional governance, modern policing education, and national security. Previously, the Nigeria Police Academy operated only a single campus in Wudil, Kano State. The new Ogun State campus will be the first satellite campus established under the 2021 Act.
The Central Bank of Nigeria CBN and the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU to address SIM-related fraud and strengthen consumer protection within Nigeria's digital ecosystem. The agreement, signed in Abuja, aims to improve coordination between the financial and telecommunications sectors, focusing on combating electronic fraud linked to mobile numbers and enhancing payment system integrity. CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso stated that the MoU is a "practical statement of national interest," emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration due to increasing reliance on digital channels for payments. He noted that the agreement would reinforce the stability and integrity of Nigeria’s payment system, support innovation, and ensure consumer safety. The deal will also strengthen coordination on approvals, technical standards, and innovation trials, including sandbox testing. A key component is the rollout of the Telecom Identity Risk Management Portal, a data-sharing platform designed to detect fraud linked to recycled, swapped, or blacklisted phone numbers. This platform will enable real-time verification of mobile number status across banks and fintech firms, with strict adherence to data protection laws. NCC Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida described the agreement as a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy, highlighting that it will provide financial institutions with better visibility into the status of phon