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Federal High Court orders the permanent forfeiture of 48 high-value properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, ruling they were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismisses all objections by Malami, his family members, and associated companies, holding that the legitimacy of the funds used to acquire the assets—not ownership claims—was the decisive legal issue.
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Forfeited assets include luxury hotels, mansions, commercial plazas, shopping outlets, estates, and over 100 hectares of land across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna, making it one of Nigeria’s largest court-ordered asset recoveries.
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The judgment marks a major victory for the EFCC as Malami, his son, and one of his wives continue to face a 16-count money laundering trial over the alleged laundering of about ₦9 billion in public funds.
July 15, (THEWILL) — The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, ruling that the assets were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the judgment, held that Malami failed to rebut the reasonable suspicion established by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the properties were purchased with illicit funds.
Before delivering the substantive judgment, the court dismissed all applications, motions on notice, and preliminary objections filed by Malami, members of his family, and companies claiming ownership of the properties, describing them as lacking merit.
The judge held that the central issue before the court was not who owned the properties but whether the funds used to acquire them were legitimate.
“The issue before the court is not who owns the property, but how legitimate the funds used to acquire the properties are,” Justice Abdulmalik ruled.
She further held that Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act empowers the court to order the permanent forfeiture of assets reasonably established to have been acquired through unlawful means.
Court Rejects Ownership Claims, Orders Final Forfeiture
The judgment followed an application by the EFCC, which sought the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly traced to the former Justice Minister.
Although the anti-graft agency requested the forfeiture of all 57 assets, the court held that credible evidence established the genuine ownership of nine of the listed properties, leaving 48 properties to be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The parties had adopted their final written addresses on May 26 before Justice Abdulmalik reserved judgment.
The court’s ruling also affirmed the interim forfeiture order earlier granted after the EFCC convinced the court that the assets, valued at more than ₦212 billion, were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of crime.
EFCC Secures Major Asset Recovery Victory
According to the EFCC, the properties are spread across the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as well as Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.
The commission alleged that Malami acquired the assets using proceeds of unlawful activities and asked the court to permanently transfer them to the Federal Government.
Following the interim forfeiture order, the court had directed the EFCC to publish notices inviting any person claiming ownership or interest in the properties to appear before it and show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited.
Counsel to the EFCC, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, relied on a 47-paragraph affidavit and 46 documentary exhibits to argue that Malami failed to satisfactorily explain the legitimate sources of funds used to acquire the assets.
The anti-graft agency maintained that the former Attorney-General resorted to acquiring choice properties across the country in a bid to conceal proceeds of crime.
Luxury Hotels, Mansions, Estates Among Forfeited Assets
The forfeited assets comprise one of the largest portfolios of properties ever linked to a former public office holder in Nigeria.
Among them are a luxury duplex on Plot 3011, Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja; the former Harmonia Hotels complex at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki; the 53-room Meethaq Hotels on Plot 683, Jabi District; the 15-room Meethaq Hotels on Rhine Street, Maitama; terraces on Property No. 3130, Asokoro District; and a commercial property at No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro.
Also forfeited are Shop C82 at Citiscape–Shariff Plaza on Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II; Shops A36 and B3 at Vegas Mall, Wuse II; twin houses at Apo Legislative Quarters in Gudu District; residential properties at No. 26 Babbi Drive, BUA Estate; No. 27 Efab Estate Avenue, Gwarimpa; Plot 13, Ipent 7 Estate, Karsana District; and a four-bedroom duplex at No. 12 Yalinga Street, Wuse II.
The forfeiture order equally covers commercial and residential properties in Kano, including buildings at No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way and Plot 157 Lamido Crescent in Nasarawa GRA.
In Kebbi State, the affected assets include a commercial plaza, warehouses, commercial toilets, and laundry facilities adjoining Birnin Kebbi Market; 100 hectares of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road; a four-bedroom bungalow in Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi; and housing developments linked to the Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative comprising nine three-bedroom bungalows, three two-bedroom bungalows, and about 5.4 hectares of land acquired through the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage Scheme.
Also forfeited is a four-bedroom house with boys’ quarters on Doka Crescent in Abakpa GRA, Kaduna.
According to the EFCC, many of the properties were acquired between 2016 and 2024 before being upgraded into luxury hotels, commercial complexes, estates, and other high-value developments worth several billions of naira.
Malami Defends Assets, Court Rejects Arguments
Malami had challenged the forfeiture proceedings, insisting the assets were lawfully acquired and duly declared in his asset declaration forms submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in 2019 and 2023.
He accused the EFCC of suppressing material facts and obtaining the interim forfeiture order through exaggerated and manipulated valuations of the properties.
The former Attorney-General argued that the commission failed to establish any prima facie evidence linking the assets to proceeds of crime and maintained that they were legitimately acquired after his appointment and properly declared in accordance with constitutional requirements.
His counsel, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, urged the court to set aside the interim forfeiture order, insisting the EFCC’s case was founded on suspicion rather than credible evidence.
Justice Abdulmalik, however, dismissed the objections, holding that Malami and other claimants failed to dislodge the reasonable suspicion established by the EFCC regarding the source of funds used to acquire the assets.
Money Laundering Trial Continues
Malami, who served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is separately facing a 16-count money laundering charge before the Federal High Court alongside his son, Abdulaziz Malami, and one of his wives, Hajia Bashir Asabe.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants laundered about ₦9 billion in public funds through the acquisition of choice properties across the country.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
