The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to the Federal Government.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had met the legal threshold of reasonable suspicion required to secure the forfeiture of the assets.
The judge ruled that Malami, his family members and companies associated with the properties failed to rebut the EFCC’s claims that the assets were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
Before delivering the judgment, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed several applications, motions on notice and applications to show cause filed by the respondents, describing them as lacking merit.
She stressed 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,” the judge said.
She added that the respondents failed to disprove the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired through unlawful activities.
Relying on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, the court granted the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
However, Justice Abdulmalik discharged the interim forfeiture order in respect of some of the properties.
How the Case Started
The EFCC had, in January, filed civil forfeiture proceedings seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties valued at N212.8 billion, alleging they were proceeds of unlawful activities linked to the former AGF.
On January 16, Justice Emeka Nwite, sitting as a vacation judge, granted an interim forfeiture order and directed the EFCC to publish it in a national newspaper to allow interested parties to appear before the court and explain why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
The affected properties are located across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi and Kaduna states.
Following the publication of the interim order, Malami, his wife, Nana Hadiza Malami, his son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, and several companies linked to the assets challenged the forfeiture proceedings.
They argued that the properties were lawfully acquired and maintained that the EFCC failed to establish any connection between the assets and alleged unlawful activities.
The respondents also contended that the anti-graft agency relied on speculation instead of credible evidence and did not identify any specific criminal offence from which the properties were allegedly derived.
EFCC’s Arguments in Court
After the court resumed from its annual vacation, the matter was reassigned to Justice Abdulmalik.
During the hearing, counsel for the EFCC argued that investigations showed the assets were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and registered in the names of individuals and companies allegedly acting as fronts for Malami.
The commission also maintained that civil forfeiture proceedings require proof of reasonable suspicion rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
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After both parties adopted their final written addresses in May, the court reserved judgment.
The ruling, initially scheduled for July 6, was postponed twice before it was eventually delivered on Wednesday.
EFCC Lists Forfeited Properties
In a statement issued after the judgment, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale listed the forfeited assets to include Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, covering its permanent, temporary and third campuses, the vice chancellor’s residence and Rayhaan Radio.
Other forfeited assets include Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory with its factory buildings, machinery, mosque and staff quarters; Azbir Arena, which houses Azbir Hotel, a printing press, gallery, gardens, clothing outlet, pharmacy and supermarket; Al-Afiya Energy tanker garage; Rayhaan Security House; an uncompleted two-storey plaza in Birnin Kebbi; Amasdul Oil and Gas filling station; Zeennoor Hotel in Kano with its 131 rooms; Zeennoor Mosque; and the old Zeennoor Hotel building.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of several other high-value assets in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi, including luxury homes, hotels, commercial plazas, warehouses, petrol stations, farmlands and estates.
According to the EFCC, ownership of the 48 properties has now been transferred to the Federal Government.
Malami is currently facing trial alongside his wife and son over an alleged N8.7 billion fraud.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.