EFCC Seeks Permanent Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Ex‑AGF Malami

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to permanently seize 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as part of its investigation into suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.

The anti‑graft agency presented the application before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, urging the court to grant a final forfeiture order in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria after an earlier interim forfeiture order was issued in January. The case is filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026.

In a motion filed by its legal team led by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, and Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the EFCC maintained that the respondents — including Malami, his relatives, and multiple corporate entities — have failed to justify why the interim forfeiture order should be reversed.

The commission grounded its application in Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud‑Related Offences Act, 2006, which empowers courts to confiscate assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful conduct, even without a criminal conviction. The EFCC argued that due process was followed, including the publication of the interim forfeiture order in THISDAY newspaper on January 9, 2026.

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“This honourable court made an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Okutepa told the court, adding that “no sufficient cause has been shown why the properties… should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

An affidavit deposed to by EFCC investigator Daniel Adebayo outlined the scope of the probe, which began after multiple petitions accused Malami of corruption, abuse of office and fraud. Investigators examined financial records from commercial banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and obtained information from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). Land registries and geographical information systems in Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Abuja were also consulted, and physical inspections and valuations of the properties were conducted.

Adebayo informed the court that the assets’ value was disproportionate to Malami’s lawful earnings while in office between 2015 and 2023. According to evidence presented:

• Malami earned a total salary of ₦89,664,000 during his eight years in office, averaging about ₦962,663.68 per month.
• He received a ₦12,158,400 severance allowance upon leaving office.
• He declared estacode (travel) allowances totalling ₦253,608,500 for official trips between 2015 and 2023, as documented in an addendum to his asset declaration form submitted to the CCB in June 2023.

Copies of Malami’s asset declaration forms and supporting documentation were seized during an EFCC search of his residence and tendered as Exhibits EFCC 2 & 3.

The affidavit further states that many properties were acquired through proxies and corporate entities — such as Rayhaan University (Kebbi), Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd, Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd, Meethaq Hotels Ltd, and others — raising suspicion about their provenance. Several structures were allegedly developed without appropriate building permits or approvals, particularly in Kano and Kebbi states.

Adebayo also noted that the properties’ total value is estimated at about ₦213.2 billion, geographically spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.

Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, his son Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, and the corporate respondents have challenged the interim forfeiture order and asked the court to set it aside. The matter is now slated for a full hearing on April 21, 2026 before Justice Abdulmalik.

This application follows an earlier ruling on January 8, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite, which granted the EFCC’s ex parte request for interim forfeiture and ordered publication to allow interested parties to contest it within 14 days — a window that has since lapsed without successful challenges to overturn the interim order.

Legal experts note that final forfeiture applications such as this one test the non‑conviction based forfeiture regime and could shape future asset recovery efforts in high‑profile corruption cases in Nigeria.

EFCC Seeks Permanent Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Ex‑AGF Malami

Police Detain Four Over Military Uniforms, Recover Arms

Abia State Police Command has arrested four suspects in Umuahia for allegedly wearing military uniforms illegally, recovering firearms and ammunition in a major security operation. The arrests are part of intensified efforts to clamp down on criminal activities across the state.

Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, revealed that the suspects are being interrogated at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and assured that prosecution would follow upon the conclusion of investigations.

“The people arrested with army uniform are being investigated. There are about three or four of them. They are undergoing interrogation,” CP Isa said during a press briefing.

The operation forms part of a broader campaign that has seen over 200 arrests between January and April for various offences, including robbery, cultism, and other criminal acts. Security forces also recovered 32 firearms and assorted ammunition, underscoring the commitment of the police to maintain law and order.

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While reporting a decline in major crimes such as kidnapping and armed robbery, CP Isa expressed concern over a rise in cult-related activities, noting that 13 cultism cases were addressed within the period, resulting in the prosecution and remand of 23 suspects.

The CP also clarified reports surrounding a patient’s death at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), stating it was a case of suicide, not murder. The deceased reportedly took his own life after failing to meet obligations tied to funds collected as a job recruiter.

Authorities urged residents to support the police with timely and credible information and warned against extortion, emphasizing that bail is free and encouraging direct reporting of any intimidation attempts.

As part of welfare initiatives, the Command disbursed N11,960,244.88 under the Inspector-General of Police welfare package to families of fallen officers. Grace Nwogu, speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, praised the IGP for providing vital relief to affected families.

The CP also provided updates on the ongoing police recruitment exercise, reporting that 771 candidates have been screened out of 1,005 applicants, with recruitment continuing until April 18. Newly deployed officers have also filled key positions, including replacing the late Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Chris Okoro, and promoting the former DCP CID.

The Abia State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining security operations, protecting lives, and curbing criminal activities across the state.

Police Detain Four Over Military Uniforms, Recover Arms

Nigerian Navy Seizes 15,000 Litres of Stolen Fuel in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on oil theft in Nigeria with the interception of about 15,000 litres of suspected illegally refined fuel in Rivers State under Operation Delta Sentinel.

The development was confirmed in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Naval Information, Abiodun Folorunsho, who said the operation was carried out by personnel of NNS Pathfinder following credible intelligence.

According to him, the Navy deployed an anti-crude oil theft patrol team to the Abua-Odual and Ogbologo axis—areas widely regarded as hotspots for illegal oil bunkering and artisanal refining in the Niger Delta.

During the operation, naval operatives intercepted two wooden boats laden with approximately 15,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.

Folorunsho said the suspects fled upon sighting the patrol team.
“On sighting the naval patrol, the suspected perpetrators abandoned the boats and fled into the surrounding creeks to evade arrest,” he stated.

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The Navy confirmed that the intercepted boats and products were secured and handled in accordance with established operational procedures, while investigations are ongoing to track down those responsible.

The Nigerian Navy anti-oil theft operation highlights ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks involved in crude oil theft—an illicit activity that continues to cause huge revenue losses and environmental damage in the Niger Delta.

The operation aligns with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Idi Abbas, who has ordered intensified intelligence-driven missions to combat maritime crimes and secure Nigeria’s waterways.

Authorities say Operation Delta Sentinel remains a critical component of broader national efforts to protect oil infrastructure, curb pipeline vandalism, and boost legitimate crude oil production.

The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the offensive against oil thieves, stressing that surveillance and patrol activities would continue across vulnerable riverine communities.

Nigerian Navy Seizes 15,000 Litres of Stolen Fuel in Rivers