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Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of 48 Properties Worth N212bn Linked To Malami

Published

1 day ago

November 11, 2026

Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of 48 Properties Worth N212bn Linked To Malami

ABUJA – The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.

The properties, initially valued at approximately ₦212.8 billion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), are among 57 assets allegedly acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities during Malami’s tenure in office between 2015 and 2023.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the EFCC‘s application for final forfeiture after dismissing objections filed by Malami, members of his family and several companies claiming ownership of the properties.

The judge held that the respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish that the disputed assets were acquired through legitimate sources of income.

In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik emphasised that the central issue before the court was not necessarily who owned the properties but the legitimacy of the funds used to acquire them.

She reportedly stated that the respondents had failed to dislodge the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired through unlawful activities.

The properties are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states and comprise luxury hotels, duplexes, residential estates, shopping plazas, warehouses, educational institutions and industrial facilities.

Malami’s Family, Companies Lose Court Battle

The forfeiture proceedings followed an investigation by the EFCC, which identified 57 properties allegedly linked to the former minister.

Following an interim forfeiture order granted by the Federal High Court on January 16, 2026, Malami, his wife, children and several companies associated with the assets approached the court to challenge the action.

They urged the court to set aside the interim order, maintaining that the properties were lawfully acquired and that the EFCC had failed to establish any connection between the assets and unlawful activities.

However, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed their objections, describing the applications as lacking merit.

The judge maintained that the anti-graft agency had satisfied the legal requirement of establishing reasonable suspicion that the properties were proceeds of unlawful activities.

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She relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in granting the final forfeiture order.

Court Spares Nine Properties

Although the EFCC sought the final forfeiture of all 57 properties, the court excluded nine assets after finding that the commission had not sufficiently established their connection with unlawful activities.

Among the properties excluded were Rayhaan Model Academy, Rayhaan Primary and Secondary School, the Malami Support Organisation Building and some residential properties in Kebbi State.

The judge held that the evidence presented by the EFCC was insufficient to justify the permanent forfeiture of those particular assets.

Consequently, 48 properties were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government, while nine were spared.

Properties Include University, Hotels, Factory

Some of the prominent properties affected by the order include Rayhaan University campuses in Kebbi State, Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, Meethaq Hotels in Abuja, Azbir Hotel and Arena, and Zeennoor Hotel in Kano.

Others include residential buildings, commercial plazas, warehouses, shopping units, filling stations and other business establishments.

The assets are spread across different locations in the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.

While the EFCC initially valued the 57 properties at approximately ₦212.8 billion, Premium Times’ calculation of the values attached to the 48 properties covered by the final order put their combined worth at about ₦180.4 billion.

The nine properties excluded from forfeiture were valued at approximately ₦28.7 billion.

Court Examines Malami’s Earnings

During the proceedings, the court also considered evidence relating to Malami’s earnings while serving as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

Justice Abdulmalik reportedly observed that Malami earned approximately ₦89.7 million in salary during his ministerial tenure and received about ₦12.16 million as severance allowance.

The judge also examined an addendum to his asset declaration in which he reportedly declared official earnings of approximately ₦253.6 million.

The court considered the figures alongside the value of the properties and the explanations offered by the respondents concerning their acquisition.

The respondents had also questioned aspects of the EFCC’s valuation reports, but the judge rejected their objections.

Forfeiture Does Not Amount To Criminal Conviction

The forfeiture order was made under a civil asset recovery process that does not require a prior criminal conviction.

The judge maintained that proceedings under the relevant provision of the law focus on the properties and whether they are reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful activities.

The forfeiture order is separate from the criminal money-laundering proceedings involving Malami and members of his family.

The former minister has consistently challenged the allegations against him.

The EFCC’s action forms part of its efforts to recover assets suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.

Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of 48 Properties Worth N212bn Linked To Malami

Related Topics:court Featured forfeiture Malami Properties

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Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him

Published

8 minutes ago

November 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Delta Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright,

Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him

EDJEKOTA-OGOR, DELTA STATE — A schoolboy identified as Marvellous has reportedly escaped a suspected kidnapping attempt after a commercial motorcycle rider allegedly tried to lure him away by claiming that his father had sent him.

The incident occurred in Edjekota-Ogor community in Delta State, where the unidentified motorcycle rider reportedly approached the boy and attempted to gain his confidence by mentioning his father’s name.

The suspect allegedly told Marvellous that his father had instructed him to pick him up, apparently hoping to deceive the young boy into following him.

However, Marvellous reportedly became suspicious of the rider’s claim and refused to go with him, thereby foiling what could have been an abduction.

Following the incident, community leaders reportedly intervened to ensure the boy’s safety and facilitate his return to his family.

The President-General of Edjekota-Ogor community subsequently directed the community’s Secretary-General to take necessary steps to protect the boy and reunite him with his relatives.

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Acting on the directive, the Secretary-General reportedly contacted members of Marvellous’s family and successfully ensured that he was returned safely to his relieved parents.

The incident has drawn attention to the need for increased vigilance among parents, guardians and community members over the safety of children.

Parents have been urged to educate their children never to follow anyone, including familiar-looking strangers, without first confirming such arrangements directly with them.

Children should also be taught not to rely solely on someone mentioning their parents’ names as proof of familiarity or authority.

The identity and whereabouts of the suspected motorcycle rider were not disclosed in the account of the incident.

Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him

metro

Tragedy in Benue: Four Dead, 14 Hospitalised After Consuming Suspected Poisonous Herbal Mixture

Published

2 hours ago

November 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Tragedy in Benue: Four Dead, 14 Hospitalised After Consuming Suspected Poisonous Herbal Mixture

At least four persons have died, while 14 others have been hospitalised after allegedly consuming a suspected poisonous herbal mixture in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.

The victims, residents of the Igede community, reportedly bought the herbal preparations from three men during the Ihiejwo market day in Oju township last weekend.

The incident sparked panic in the community on Monday, November 2, after several residents who had consumed the preparations reportedly began developing similar symptoms.

According to eyewitness accounts, the first victim died on Tuesday morning, while the second died in the early hours of Wednesday. Two additional victims reportedly died on November 4.

Fourteen other persons were said to have been taken to different hospitals for medical attention, with some reportedly in critical condition.

The suspected herbal mixture sellers were identified as Alhaji Sule Mai Magani, Bello Mohamed and Musa Kala.

Following the incident, members of the Igede Youth Council, working with the Oju Local Government Area Township Youth leadership, reportedly apprehended the three men and handed them over to the police.

The suspects were subsequently transferred from the Oju Divisional Police Headquarters to the Benue State Police Command in Makurdi for further investigation.

President of the Igede Youth Council, Comrade John-Frank Ozzidi, called on the Benue State Government to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident and bring anyone found responsible to justice.

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Ozzidi commended members of the community for resisting the temptation to take the law into their own hands, despite the anger generated by the deaths.

He said the decision to hand over the suspects to the police demonstrated the community’s confidence in the ability of security agencies and the government to ensure justice.

The youth leader also appealed to political officeholders from the area to monitor the investigation and ensure that the circumstances surrounding the suspected poisoning were fully established.

Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Jackson Ominyi, confirmed the incident but said he was initially unable to establish the exact number of fatalities.

He disclosed that the local government had mobilised its security and health officials to manage the situation and ensure that affected residents received medical attention.

Ominyi also said the suspected sellers had been arrested and transferred to the police headquarters in Makurdi.

Meanwhile, the incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of unregulated herbal preparations sold in local markets and the need for stronger monitoring of products consumed by members of the public.

The authorities are expected to establish the actual substances contained in the preparations and determine whether they were responsible for the deaths and illnesses.

The police investigation is also expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the sale and consumption of the suspected poisonous mixture.

Tragedy in Benue: Four Dead, 14 Hospitalised After Consuming Suspected Poisonous Herbal Mixture

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CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu

Published

15 hours ago

November 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse

CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu

LAGOS — A fresh controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic credentials at Chicago State University (CSU) has taken an unexpected turn, following explosive claims made by a former lecturer at the institution, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse.

Pearse, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and governorship aspirant, publicly accused President Tinubu of never attending CSU, describing the Nigerian leader in harsh terms during a broadcast interview on News Central Television. Pearse claimed that as a former lecturer at CSU, he had direct knowledge of the institution’s records and served as the director of the program Tinubu reportedly attended.

However, Pearse’s allegations have sparked fierce backlash after key details of his timeline emerged, leading political analysts and presidential aides to conclude that the former lecturer effectively indicted himself.

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The Discrepancy in Timelines

During his broadcast appearance, Dr. Pearse disclosed that he served as a lecturer and program director at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990.

Official records previously confirmed by Chicago State University establish that President Bola Tinubu attended the university between 1977 and 1979, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in June 1979.

The six-year gap between Tinubu’s graduation in 1979 and Pearse’s arrival at the university in 1985 has drawn significant scrutiny. Critics point out that Pearse was not present at CSU during the years Tinubu studied there, undermining his claim of personal first-hand knowledge of student enrollments during the late 1970s.

Presidency and Allies Respond

Reacting to the allegations, aides to President Tinubu and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) cited major flaws in Pearse’s narrative.

Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, highlighted the timeline mismatch, noting that a lecturer who joined CSU six years after a student had already graduated could not authoritatively claim personal knowledge of that student’s presence on campus.

“Facts are always scary to con-artists,” Olusegun noted, emphasizing that individual faculty members do not possess administrative ownership of an entire university’s historical database across different decades.

Furthermore, APC chieftains have demanded that Pearse retract his statement or face legal action for defamation, describing the allegations as politically motivated rhetoric aimed at heating up the polity ahead of future elections.

While certificate controversies have repeatedly resurfaced in public debate, legal investigations and past disclosures by Chicago State University have maintained that President Tinubu was indeed a registered student who completed his degree at the institution in 1979.

As public debate continues over the incident, Pearse’s attempt to present himself as the ultimate authority on the matter has instead turned the spotlight back onto his own timeline, leaving him to address the glaring inconsistencies in his claims.

For further context and analysis regarding public statements and legal responses to President Tinubu’s academic record controversies, you can watch Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse’s statement on Chicago State University records, which details the allegations and political reactions surrounding the issue.

CSU CERTIFICATE CONTROVERSY: How Ex-Lecturer Inadvertently Indicted Himself Over Claims Against President Tinubu