The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order after hearing an ex parte motion filed by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the multi-billion-naira properties are located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States. Although the ruling was delivered on Tuesday, its certified true copy (CTC) was sighted by NAN on Wednesday.
“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.
Justice Nwite further directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily, inviting interested parties to challenge the action.
The publication should be made “inviting any person(s) or body (ies) who may have interest in the properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said assets and properties, should not be made.”
The court adjourned the matter until January 27 for a report on compliance.
Properties Listed for Interim Forfeiture
The assets include several high-value properties, among them:
> A luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, purchased in December 2022 for ₦500 million, with an enhanced value of ₦5.95 billion
>A two-winged storey building on Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, formerly Harmonia Hotels Ltd, acquired in December 2018 for ₦7 billion
>A five-storey hotel property in Jabi District, now Meethaq Hotels Ltd, purchased at carcass level in 2020 and valued at ₦8.4 billion after completion
> Multiple properties in Asokoro, Maitama, Gwarimpa, Wuse II and Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja
> Several assets in Kano and Kebbi States, including residential buildings, plazas, warehouses, commercial facilities and large parcels of land.
>Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at the Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, including bungalows and 5.4 hectares of land.
Ongoing Criminal Trial
NAN reports that 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 offence.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the EFCC listed Malami, his wife, his son and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd as defendants.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants engaged in suspicious financial transactions and attempted to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions between 2015 and 2025, a period covering Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In count one, the EFCC alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over ₦1 billionin a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
