By Rahman Idris
ABUJA, Nigeria — A federal high court in Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, following allegations that the assets were acquired through unlawful activities.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed an ex parte application. The anti-graft agency contends that the properties, valued at several billions of naira, represent proceeds of corruption.
According to court documents, the EFCC has traced 41 high-value assets specifically to Malami, including private universities, hotels, and luxury residential buildings across Kebbi, Kano, and Abuja. The commission estimates the total value of these specific holdings at approximately ₦212.9 billion.
“The assets are suspected to be proceeds of crime and were acquired with suspicious funds,” an EFCC spokesperson stated following the ruling. “The interim forfeiture ensures these properties remain under government control while investigations continue.”
The court’s decision comes as Malami, along with his wife and son, faces a separate ₦8.7 billion money laundering charge. Prosecutors allege the family utilized a network of shell companies to conceal the origin of the funds.
Justice Nwite directed the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order in a national newspaper. This allows any person or entity with a legitimate interest in the properties to show cause within 14 days as to why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
Malami, who served as Nigeria’s chief law officer from 2015 to 2023, has previously denied allegations of financial impropriety. Legal representatives for the former minister were not immediately available for comment regarding the latest court order.
