Court orders interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Abubakar Malami

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite on Tuesday following an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.

The properties, worth billions of naira, are spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna States. Justice Nwite also directed that the order be published in a national newspaper to allow anyone with a legal interest in the assets 14 days to show cause why a final forfeiture should not be granted. The matter was adjourned to January 37 for a compliance report.

Some of the high-value assets listed include:

Luxury duplex, Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja – purchased in December 2022 for N500 million, valued after enhancement at N5.95 billion.

Two-winged large storey building, Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja – acquired in December 2018 at N7 billion.

Meethaq Hotels, Jabi, Abuja – five-storey building purchased at N850 million in 2020, now valued at N8.4 billion.

Meethaq Hotels, Maitama, Abuja – 15-room property purchased in 2018 for N430 million, current value N12.95 billion.

Multiple residential plots, commercial shops, warehouses, and farmlands across Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi, including properties in Gwarimpa, Asokoro, and Wuse districts.

The EFCC had earlier arraigned Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, over alleged N8.7 billion money laundering. The 16-count charge alleges that between 2015 and 2025, the defendants engaged in transactions intended to conceal the unlawful origin of funds and acquire properties across several states.

The anti-graft agency accused Malami and his family of disguising the source of funds, acquiring assets indirectly, and retaining sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 and 2022.

The interim forfeiture order now places the properties under the control of the Federal Government, pending further court determination.