Isaac Samuel
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture of 48 assets linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment delivered in Abuja, held that Malami, some members of his family and other claimants failed to rebut the reasonable suspicion raised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
The judge held that the critical issue before the court was not the ownership of the properties but whether the funds used in acquiring them were lawfully obtained.
Justice Abdulmalik relied on the provisions of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in granting the final forfeiture order.
The court also dismissed several motions and applications filed by Malami and other claimants seeking to establish ownership of the properties, finding their claims unmeritorious.
However, the judge vacated the interim forfeiture order earlier granted in respect of nine of the assets, leaving 48 properties permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The case originated from an interim forfeiture order granted on January 16, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over 57 assets which the EFCC estimated to be worth about ₦212.8 billion.
In granting the interim order, Justice Nwite directed the anti-graft agency to publish the forfeiture notice in a national newspaper and invite interested parties to appear before the court and show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The properties, according to the EFCC, are located across the Federal Capital Territory, Kano, Kebbi and Kaduna States.
Following the publication, Malami, his wife, Nana Hadiza Malami, his son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, and companies linked to them filed processes before the court, claiming ownership of the assets and insisting that they were lawfully acquired.
They urged the court to reject the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
In its investigation, the EFCC identified a vast portfolio of assets allegedly linked to the former Attorney-General and his associates, including university buildings, hotels, schools, agro-allied factories, pharmacies, supermarkets, filling stations, shopping complexes and extensive landed properties.
Among the assets listed by the anti-graft agency is the Rayhaan University complex, agro-allied factory buildings and machinery, hotels, pharmacies, supermarkets, primary and secondary schools, oil and gas stations, shops and other commercial structures.
Also affected by the forfeiture order is a luxury duplex located on Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja. The EFCC told the court that the property was acquired in December 2022 for ₦500 million and subsequently enhanced to an estimated value of ₦5.95 billion.
Another major asset is a two-winged multi-storey building located at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, formerly known as Harmonia Hotels Limited, which was reportedly acquired in December 2018 for N7 billion.
The court ordered the forfeiture of Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, Abuja, comprising a five-storey building currently operating as Meethaq Hotels Limited with 53 rooms and suites.
According to the EFCC, the property was purchased at carcass level in September 2020 for ₦850 million, with an additional ₦300 million paid to secure possession. Its estimated value after completion was put at ₦8.4 billion.
Also forfeited is Property No. 3130 within Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja, comprising terrace buildings acquired in January 2021 for ₦360 million.
The court further ordered the forfeiture of Meethaq Hotels Limited located at No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja. The property, which has 15 rooms, was reportedly acquired in February 2018 for ₦430 million and is now valued at about ₦12.95 billion following extensive rehabilitation.
Other assets include Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District, Abuja, located at No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent, reportedly acquired in July 2021 for ₦325 million, and Shop No. C82, Citiscape-Shariff Plaza, Plot 739, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in March 2024 for ₦120 million.
In Kano State, the forfeited assets include a property located at No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, reportedly acquired in December 2022 for ₦300 million, and Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA.
Also listed are a plaza, commercial facilities, warehouses and storage tanks situated adjacent to some of the properties.
The court equally ordered the forfeiture of 100 hectares of land located along Birnin Kebbi-Jega Road in Kebbi State, reportedly acquired in 2020 for ₦100 million, as well as a four-bedroom bungalow at Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, purchased in 2023 for ₦101 million.
Additional properties forfeited include Shops A36 and B3 at Vegas Mall, Wuse II, Abuja, acquired in July 2023 for ₦158 million; a residential property at No. 26 Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 for ₦136 million; and another property located at No. 27 Efab Estate Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, acquired in January 2016 for ₦120 million.
The forfeiture order also covers a four-bedroom bungalow with two-room boys’ quarters at No. 10B Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 for ₦40 million, and Plot No. 13, Ipent 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, acquired in June 2018 for ₦85 million.
Further affected is a duplex with boys’ quarters located at No. 12 Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, reportedly purchased in October 2018 for ₦150 million.
The court ordered the forfeiture of two warehouse shops identified as B40 and B46 at Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 for ₦50 million.
Among the assets are twin houses located at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, which were reportedly acquired between February and May 2017 for ₦250 million.
Also forfeited are properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, including nine units of three-bedroom bungalows, three units of two-bedroom bungalows and about 5.4 hectares of land purchased between February and September 2023 for approximately ₦187 million.
Justice Abdulmalik held that the claimants failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish the legitimate sources of funds used to acquire the properties and consequently granted the EFCC’s request for final forfeiture of the 48 assets.
