The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed an application at the Federal High Court in Abuja for the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly connected to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
In a motion on notice, the EFCC argued that Malami, his family, and associated companies failed to provide sufficient evidence to challenge a previous interim forfeiture order.
The respondents in the case include Malami, his son Abdulaziz, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, and several corporate entities, including Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Limited, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Limited, Amasdul Oil and Gas Limited, Azbir Arena Nigeria Limited, and Meethaq Hotels Limited.
Other entities listed are Rayhaan University Limited/GTE, Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Zeenoor Hotels Limited, Kawsar Ben of Brahim, Alhaji Muktaka Usman Junju, and Real Edge Agro Services Limited.
The EFCC cited six grounds for seeking the final forfeiture, asserting that the court has statutory authority under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, to grant the requested reliefs. The agency described the process as a non-conviction-based asset forfeiture proceeding, claiming the properties are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Following the interim order, published in a national newspaper on January 9, 2026, the EFCC argued that “no sufficient cause has been shown why the properties should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
Supporting its application, the EFCC disclosed that it had received multiple petitions alleging corruption, abuse of office, and fraud against the former minister. Investigations included reviewing financial records from commercial banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and geographic verification from the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS).
The commission also conducted property inspections in Kebbi, Kano, and Abuja, evaluated assets, and interviewed relevant individuals linked to the investigation.
According to the EFCC, Malami received N89,664,000 as salary between 2015 and 2023, along with N12,158,400 in severance and N253,608,500 in travel-related allowances, which were declared to the CCB.
The EFCC claimed that most properties were acquired without proper building permits and that several assets were purchased either in Malami’s name or through front companies to disguise the unlawful origin of funds. Among the listed properties are sites for Rayhaan University in Kebbi, as well as assets in Abuja, Kano, Kebbi, and Kaduna states.
Justice Abdulmalik has scheduled April 21, 2026, for the hearing of the motion for final forfeiture.
