A Witness Has Told A Federal High Court That A Commercial Bank Flagged Multiple

A witness has told a Federal High Court that a commercial bank flagged multiple transactions linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation AGF, Abubakar Malami, a development that allegedly triggered further scrutiny by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC in an ongoing money laundering case.

A prosecution witness, identified as a compliance officer, told the court that the bank detected unusual patterns in transactions connected to Malami’s accounts and subsequently filed reports in line with financial monitoring requirements. Those reports, the witness said, formed part of the intelligence used in the EFCC’s investigation into alleged money laundering and financial irregularities. The testimony was given during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Malami is standing trial alongside other defendants over allegations involving the movement of funds said to run into billions of naira. The EFCC alleges that the transactions were linked to a broader scheme of disguising and laundering proceeds of unlawful activity. According to the witness, the bank’s compliance unit raised red flags and escalated the matter through official channels after reviewing account activity, which then contributed to the regulatory and investigative response by authorities. The court was also told that suspicious transaction reports were filed as part of standard banking compliance procedures. The case is part of a wider EFCC prosecution involving allegations of large-scale money laundering tied to accounts and corporate entities allegedly connected to Malami, his wife, and his son. The commission says the transactions in question span several years and involve complex financial flows through multiple accounts.

Malami has denied wrongdoing in the matter, while the defence has challenged the admissibility and interpretation of some of the financial documents presented in court. The trial is ongoing, with further hearings expected as the court continues to examine banking records and witness testimonies.