Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Abubakar Malami, a former minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation.
Abubakar Malami
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order after an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. The properties, described as multi-billion naira assets, are spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite said: “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule 1 below, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The judge further directed that the forfeiture order be published in a national newspaper, calling on any individual or organisation with an interest in the assets to show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture order should not be made. The matter was adjourned to January 37 for a report on compliance.
The assets listed include luxury duplexes, hotels, plazas, warehouses, shopping units, hectares of land and residential buildings in high-value locations such as Maitama, Asokoro, Jabi, Wuse, Gwarimpa, Birnin Kebbi and parts of Kano and Kaduna. Several of the properties were allegedly acquired between 2015 and 2025, with some valued in the billions of naira after enhancement.
Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son Abubakar Abdulaziz are currently standing trial before Justice Nwite over an alleged ₦8.7 billion money-laundering case.
The EFCC, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, accused the defendants of conspiring to conceal the unlawful origin of funds, acquire properties indirectly, and retain proceeds allegedly derived from criminal activities, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 and 2022.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the offences were committed during Malami’s tenure as attorney-general under the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari, adding that billions of naira were moved through bank accounts and property acquisitions in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi in an attempt to disguise their source.
