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

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