A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of more than 40 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his family members and associated companies, to the Federal Government.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the judgment on Wednesday in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which sought the permanent forfeiture of the assets on the grounds that they were suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.
The court held that the respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence to rebut the EFCC’s claim that the properties were acquired through illegitimate means.
Justice Abdulmalik also dismissed objections filed by Malami, members of his family and companies linked to the assets, describing their arguments as lacking merit.
“The issue before the court is not who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties,” the judge held.
She added that the respondents had “not dislodged the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired through unlawful activities.”
The court relied principally on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, in granting the final forfeiture order.
However, Justice Abdulmalik vacated the interim forfeiture order in respect of some of the assets initially listed by the anti-graft agency.
Properties Valued at Over N213 Billion
The ruling followed an earlier order issued in January 2026 by Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted the EFCC’s application for the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru-Rahman Malami.
The properties, spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, were valued at over N213.2 billion.
The assets include hotels, university buildings, schools, filling stations, agricultural facilities, shopping complexes, luxury residential properties and large tracts of land.
Among the high-profile assets listed by the EFCC are:
Rayhaan University buildings
Agro-allied factory facilities and machinery
Hotels, pharmacies and supermarkets
Oil and gas filling stations
Commercial plazas and shopping outlets
Educational institutions and residential estates
Other notable properties include:
A luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, reportedly acquired in 2022 for N500 million and later valued at N5.95 billion.
A twin-wing commercial building in Area 11, Garki, Abuja, formerly known as Harmonia Hotels, reportedly purchased for N7 billion.
Meethaq Hotels, Jabi, Abuja, a five-storey hotel complex with 53 rooms, valued at N8.4 billion after completion.
Meethaq Hotels, Maitama, Abuja, valued at about N12.95 billion after renovation.
Multiple residential and commercial properties in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Birnin Kebbi.
A 100-hectare parcel of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road.
Several housing units and land acquired through the Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative.
EFCC’s Case
The anti-graft agency argued that investigations established reasonable grounds to suspect that the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities.
After securing the interim forfeiture order in January, the EFCC complied with the court’s directive by publishing notices in national newspapers, inviting interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
In its application for final forfeiture, the commission maintained that the respondents failed to provide convincing explanations regarding the sources of funds used to acquire the properties.
“This honourable court made an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the EFCC stated in court documents.
“The order was duly published in a national newspaper, and no sufficient cause has been shown why the properties should not be finally forfeited.”
Respondents Named in Suit
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, listed Malami, his son Abdulaziz Abubakar, his wife Hajia Asabe Bashir, and Abiru-Rahman Abubakar Malami as the first to fourth respondents.
Several companies allegedly linked to the assets were also joined in the suit, including:
Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Ltd
Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd
Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd
Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd
Meethaq Hotels Ltd
Rayhaan University Ltd/GTE
Rayhaan Hotels Ltd
Zeenoor Hotels Ltd
Real Edge Agro Services Ltd
Others listed as respondents include businessman Alhaji Muktaka Usman Junju and Kawsar Ben of Brahim.
Major Asset Forfeiture Ruling
The judgment represents one of the largest non-conviction-based asset forfeiture cases concluded by the EFCC in recent years.
Legal analysts say the ruling reinforces the commission’s use of civil forfeiture provisions under existing anti-corruption laws, which allow courts to confiscate assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, even in the absence of a criminal conviction, provided affected parties fail to establish the legitimacy of the assets.
The EFCC has repeatedly described asset recovery as a key component of its anti-corruption campaign, while the respondents retain the right to challenge the judgment through the appellate courts.
