A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties worth over N213bn linked to former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and his sons
Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of N213bn Properties Linked to Ex-AGF Malami
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru-Rahman Malami.
The order was issued on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and moved by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
The properties, valued at ₦213,234,120,000, are located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States, and comprise luxury residential buildings, hotels, schools, oil and gas facilities, shopping complexes, warehouses and large expanses of land.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court was satisfied that the assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, thereby granting the interim forfeiture order in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“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 ruled.
The court further directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national daily, inviting any interested persons or organisations to show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture order should not be made.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance with the court’s directives.
Meanwhile, Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently facing an alleged ₦8.7 billion money laundering charge before the same court.
Properties Listed for Interim Forfeiture
Among the assets affected by the court order are:
- A luxury duplex in Maitama, Abuja, acquired in December 2022 for ₦500 million and currently valued at ₦5.95 billion
- A two-winged multi-storey building in Area 11, Garki, formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited, purchased for ₦7 billion
- A five-storey hotel in Jabi District, now operating as Meethaq Hotels Ltd, valued at ₦8.4 billion
- A 15-room hotel on Rhine Street, Maitama, with a current value of ₦12.95 billion
- Multiple residential properties in Asokoro, Gwarimpa, Apo Legislative Quarters, Wuse II and Karsana District, Abuja
- Oil and gas facilities, warehouses and commercial plazas in Kano and Kaduna States
- Over 100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, Kebbi State
- Housing units and land acquired under the Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative in Birnin Kebbi
Other assets include shopping mall outlets, warehouses at Wuse Market, schools, supermarkets, agro-allied factories and filling stations, among others listed in the court schedule.
The EFCC maintains that the assets were acquired with funds suspected to be proceeds of illicit activities and are therefore liable to forfeiture pending the conclusion of the substantive criminal trial. Read More
