The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 assets linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order in respect of 57 assets, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged were unlawfully acquired by Malami and others.
Malami was Attorney-General and Minister of Justice during the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a judgment yesterday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that Malami, some members of his family and others who claimed ownership failed to rebut the reasonable suspicion that the assets were acquired through unlawful activities.
Justice Abdulmalik noted that the issue before the court was not who owned the assets, but whether the funds used to acquire them were legitimately obtained.
The judge relied on the provisions of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in ordering the final forfeiture.
The judge dismissed motions and applications filed by Malami and others seeking to establish ownership of the assets, holding that they lacked merit.
The judge, however, vacated the earlier interim forfeiture order in respect of the remaining nine assets.
Justice Emeka Nwite (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja), to whom the case was initially assigned, granted the interim forfeiture order on January 16 over the 57 assets, which the EFCC estimated to be worth about N212.8 billion.
Justice Nwite directed the EFCC to publish the interim order in a national newspaper to enable anyone with an interest in the assets to appear before the court and show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The assets are located in Abuja, Kano, Kebbi and Kaduna states.
In response to the publication, Malami, his wife, Nana Hadiza Malami, his son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, and some firms linked to them filed processes claiming ownership of the assets.
They argued that the assets were lawfully acquired and urged the court to reject the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
The assets identified by the EFCC include Rayhaan University buildings, agro-allied factory buildings and machinery, hotels, a pharmacy, a supermarket, primary and secondary schools, oil and gas filling stations, shops and other buildings.
Others include:
A luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, File No. AN Enhancement 11352, purchased in December 2022 for N500 million and now valued at N5.95 billion after enhancement.
A two-wing storey building at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), purchased in December 2018 for N7 billion.
Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, comprising a five-storey building now occupied by Luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd with 53 rooms and suites, purchased at the carcass stage in September 2020 for N850 million, with an additional N300 million spent to complete the acquisition. The property is now valued at N8.4 billion.
Property No. 3130, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja, comprising terrace buildings, purchased in January 2021 for N360 million.
Property at No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Limited), with 15 rooms, purchased in February 2018 for N430 million and now valued at N12.95 billion after rehabilitation.
Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent), purchased in July 2021 for N325 million.
Shop No. C82, Citiscape-Shariff Plaza, Plot 739, Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in March 2024 for N120 million.
No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in December 2022 for N300 million.
Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in July 2019.
A plaza with commercial toilets, laundry facilities, warehouses and tanks.
A 100-hectare parcel of land along Birnin Kebbi-Jega Road, purchased in 2020 for N100 million.
A four-bedroom bungalow at Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, purchased in 2023 for N101 million.
Shops A36 and B3 at Vegas Mall, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in July 2023 for N158 million.
No. 26, Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 for N136 million.
No. 27, Efab Estate Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, purchased in January 2016 for N120 million.
A four-bedroom house with two-room boys’ quarters at No. 10B Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 for N40 million.
Plot No. 13, Ipent 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, purchased in June 2018 for N85 million.
A duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12 Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in October 2018 for N150 million.
Warehouse shops B40 and B46 at Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 for N50 million.
Twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Plot 14014, Cadastral Zone B01, Gudu District, Abuja, purchased between February and May 2017 for N250 million.
Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, from the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage.
Nine three-bedroom bungalows, three two-bedroom bungalows and 5.4 hectares of land purchased between February and September 2023 for N187 million, among other assets listed in the schedule.
Malami is being tried before Justice Abdulmalik along with his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, on a 16-count charge of money laundering filed by the EFCC.
The EFCC accused the three of conspiring to conceal, disguise, and retain about N8.7 billion, alleged to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
It claimed that the alleged money laundering activities took place between 2015 and 2025 through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and high-value property acquisitions.
The trial will continue tomorrow.
In another case before the same judge, Malami and his son are alleged to have, in December 2025, prepared to commit acts of terrorism by having in their possession and without a license a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar.
Source: The Nation
