The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
Assets spread across four states
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the multi-billion-naira properties are located across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi and Kaduna States.
Although the ruling was delivered on Tuesday, its certified true copy (CTC) was sighted on Wednesday.
In the ruling, Justice Nwite held that the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and should be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government pending further proceedings.
Court orders public notice, sets deadline
The court further directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily, inviting any individual or organisation with an interest in the listed properties to show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture order should not be made.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to January 27 for a report on compliance with the publication order.
High-value properties listed in schedule
Among the assets listed in the forfeiture schedule are several luxury residential and commercial properties, including:
- A luxury duplex in Maitama, Abuja, reportedly purchased for โฆ500 million and later enhanced to an estimated value of โฆ5.95 billion.
- A former hotel property in Garki, Abuja, acquired for โฆ7 billion.
- A five-storey hotel building in Jabi District, valued at about โฆ8.4 billion after completion.
- Multiple residential properties in Asokoro, Gwarimpa, Wuse II, Kano, Birnin Kebbi and Kaduna, alongside plazas, warehouses and large parcels of land.
The schedule also includes commercial shops, estates, hotel facilities and agricultural land acquired between 2016 and 2024.
EFCC links assets to money laundering trial
NAN reports that Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son Abubakar Abdulaziz are currently standing trial before the same court over an alleged โฆ8.7 billion money laundering case.
The defendants are charged alongside an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, a firm allegedly linked to the former minister.
Alleged offences span Malamiโs tenure
The EFCC alleged that the offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, covering the period Malami served as Attorney-General under the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the commission, the defendants allegedly conspired to conceal the origin of illicit funds, acquire properties indirectly and retain proceeds suspected to be unlawful, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 and 2022.
In one of the counts, the EFCC claimed that Malami and his son directed a company to conceal over โฆ1 billion through a bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
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