Abubakar Malami Biography: Wife, Parents, Age, Children, Net Worth, Properties, EFCC, Family

Biography

Abubakar Malami SAN, CON (born April 17, 1967, in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria) is a prominent Nigerian lawyer and politician.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) since 2008, he earned his LL.B from Usmanu Danfodiyo University and was called to the bar in 1992.

He played a key role in forming the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013.

He served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023 under President Muhammadu Buhari, overseeing major asset recovery efforts, including the repatriation of funds looted by former leaders.

As of December 2025, Malami faces ongoing investigations and charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) related to alleged money laundering, abuse of office, and suspicious asset accumulation, which he has denied.

Lawyer and former Federal Minister of Justice of Nigeria
Abubakar Malami
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Abubakar Malami
Born:	17 April 1967 (age 58 years old)
Place of Birth:	Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria
State Of Origin:	Kebbi State
Nationality:	Nigerian
Education:	Nassarawa Primary School, College of Arts and Arabic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Nigerian Law School, University of Maiduguri
Height:	1.72 m
Parents:	Khadi Malami Nasarawa, Halima Malami
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Nana Hadiza Malami (m. 2022), Aisha Malami, Fatima Malami, Rakkiya Bashir Malami (m. 2023)
Girlfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	Abiru Malami, Abdulaziz Malami
Occupation:	Lawyer • Politician
Net Worth:	$100 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Abubakar Malami, a prominent Nigerian lawyer and politician, was born on April 17, 1967, in Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi State in northern Nigeria.

He is of Fulani ethnicity and practices Islam as a Muslim. He was born into a respected and learned family.

His father was the late Hon. Khadi Malami Nasarawa (also referred to as Khadi Malami), a renowned judge of the Sharia Court of Appeal known for handling important matters in Islamic law. His mother is Halima Malami (sometimes titled Hajiya Halima).

Raised with emphasis on discipline from a young age, Malami grew up in a household influenced by legal and Islamic scholarship. Public information on his siblings is limited, though reports mention family members, including sons who have been noted in media coverage.

Malami began his formal education at Nassarawa Primary School in Birnin Kebbi, where he obtained his primary education. He then proceeded to the College of Arts and Arabic Studies for his secondary school education.

In 1987, he gained admission to Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) in 1991. He attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992.

Later, he obtained a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri around 1994.

Career

Abubakar Malami, SAN, CON, has built a high-profile career spanning legal practice, judicial service, and national political leadership.

Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992, he began as State Counsel in Kebbi State and briefly served as a Magistrate Grade II from 1995 to 1996 before transitioning into private practice.

He worked with K.T. Turaki & Co. before founding A.A. Malami & Co. in 2002, which he led as Principal Partner until 2015. His legal expertise earned him the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2008.

Malami’s political involvement developed alongside his legal career. He served as National Legal Adviser for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), led its presidential campaign legal team in 2011, and played a key role in the 2013 merger that created the All Progressives Congress (APC), including contributing to its manifesto development. In 2014, he contested the APC governorship primary in Kebbi State but later stepped down in support of Atiku Bagudu.

In November 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, making him the youngest member of the cabinet at the time.

He was reappointed in 2019 and held the position until May 2023. During his tenure, Malami oversaw major asset recovery efforts, including the return of more than $300 million in Sani Abacha-era funds and broader recoveries reported to exceed $2 billion.

He also led Nigeria’s legal defense in high-stakes international arbitrations, helping avert multi-billion-dollar liabilities. His ministry recorded convictions in corruption and terrorism cases, reflecting a notable emphasis on security and accountability initiatives.

Despite these accomplishments, Malami’s time in office was accompanied by public criticism and controversies related to alleged conflicts of interest and personal enrichment—allegations he has consistently denied.

After leaving office, he remained active in Kebbi State politics. In 2025, he resigned from the APC to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), announcing his intention to seek the governorship in 2027 with a focus on security and governance reform.

Malami faces a 16-count money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside his son and an associate, involving alleged concealment of funds through property transactions between 2015 and 2025. He has dismissed the allegations and challenged the legal process, with proceedings ongoing before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Personal Life

Abubakar Malami turned 58 years old, having been born on April 17, 1967.

As a practicing Muslim from northern Nigeria, he has embraced polygamy in line with Islamic traditions permitting up to four wives. Public records indicate he has been married multiple times, with reports confirming at least three wives by 2022 and a fourth by 2023.

His known wives include Aisha Malami as the first, Fatima Malami as the second, Nana Hadiza Malami (daughter of former President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he married in a private ceremony in July 2022 as his third wife; she was previously divorced and brought six children from that marriage), and Hajiya Rakkiya Bashir Malami (a widow, married in a low-key ceremony in July 2023 as his fourth wife).

Malami has several children, including at least two sons: Abiru-Rahman Malami (also known as Abiru Malami), who has followed a similar polygamous tradition by marrying multiple wives himself, and Abdulaziz Malami.

Net Worth

Abubakar Malami‘s net worth has been the subject of various unofficial estimates over the years, with some older sources suggesting figures around $100 million based on his long legal career, political influence, and reported business ventures before and during his public service.

As of December 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced 41 properties allegedly linked to him and his family, including hotels, a university (Rayhaan University), schools, residential buildings, factories, and commercial structures across Kebbi, Kano, and Abuja, with a combined estimated value exceeding N212 billion.

These assets form the basis of ongoing investigations into alleged unexplained wealth accumulation during and after his tenure as Attorney-General.

Malami has faced significant controversies, particularly surrounding allegations of corruption and abuse of office. During his eight-year service as Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice (2015–2023), he was accused of mishandling recovered looted funds, including claims related to Abacha loot recoveries and unauthorized asset disposals.

Post-tenure, in December 2025, the EFCC filed 16-count money laundering charges against him, his son Abdulaziz, and an associate, alleging concealment and laundering of billions of naira (including over N9 billion in specific transactions) through proxies and corporate entities to acquire the traced properties between 2015 and 2025.

The charges involve violations of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, with prosecutors claiming the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.

Malami has denied all allegations, describing the probe as politically motivated and criticizing the process, while the case remains pending in the Federal High Court, Abuja.

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