EFCC seeks final forfeiture of 57 Malami-linked properties

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

 

The anti-graft agency, in a motion on notice filed by its legal team led by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), urged the court to transfer ownership of the assets to the Federal Government, arguing that they are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.

 

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, lists Malami, Hajia Bashir Asabe and Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, alongside several companies, as respondents.

 

EFCC told the court that the respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn an earlier interim forfeiture order granted in January.

 

Arguing the motion, Okutepa said the case is a non-conviction-based forfeiture proceeding, adding that the court has the statutory backing to grant the request.

 

“This honourable court made an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The order was duly published, and no sufficient cause has been shown why the properties should not be finally forfeited,” he said.

 

In an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC investigator, Daniel Adebayo, the commission said its probe followed multiple petitions alleging corruption, abuse of office and fraud against the former minister.

 

According to the EFCC, investigations involved obtaining financial records from banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as inquiries from agencies including the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Code of Conduct Bureau and the Abuja Geographical Information System.

 

The agency also said land registries in Kebbi, Kano and Sokoto states were queried, while the properties were physically verified and valued.

 

The investigator alleged that Malami’s earnings while in office between 2015 and 2023 were not commensurate with the value of the assets under investigation.

 

He stated that the former minister earned about N89.66 million in salary over the eight-year period, in addition to allowances and estacodes totalling over N253.6 million.

 

The EFCC further alleged that some of the properties were acquired through proxies and linked corporate entities, with certain structures lacking necessary building approvals.

 

The commission listed 57 landed properties across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, including assets associated with Rayhaan University in Kebbi.

 

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik has fixed April 21 for the hearing of the motion.

 

The case follows an earlier ruling on January 8, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted an interim forfeiture order on the properties, valued at about N213.2 billion, and directed the EFCC to publish the order for interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.

 

The respondents have since challenged the interim order, urging the court to set it aside.