By John Umeh
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at about ₦213 billion, which are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order after granting an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
The properties, spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, include luxury homes, hotels, plazas, warehouses and vast parcels of land. Although the ruling was delivered on Tuesday, a certified true copy of the order became public on Wednesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the assets were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities” and should be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government pending further proceedings.
The court also directed the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order in a national daily, inviting any individual or organisation with an interest in the properties to appear within 14 days and show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be made.
The case was adjourned to January 27 for a report on compliance.
High-value assets listed
Among the properties listed for interim forfeiture are several prime assets in Abuja, including a luxury duplex in Maitama valued at nearly ₦6 billion after enhancement, a former hotel facility in Garki reportedly purchased for ₦7 billion, and a five-storey hotel complex in Jabi valued at over ₦8.4 billion after completion.
Other assets include multiple residential properties in Asokoro, Gwarimpa, Apo Legislative Quarters and Wuse II, commercial shops in major plazas and markets, as well as hotels in Maitama and Kano.
The forfeiture list also includes large tracts of land and commercial facilities in Kebbi State, such as a plaza near Birnin Kebbi Market, a 100-hectare parcel of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, and several residential buildings.
In addition, the court order covers properties allegedly acquired through a non-governmental organisation, Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative, including multiple bungalows and over five hectares of land in Kebbi.
Ongoing criminal trial
NAN reports that Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently standing trial before the same court on an ₦8.7 billion money laundering charge.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the EFCC named Malami, his wife, his son and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd as defendants.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants engaged in multiple suspicious financial transactions and attempted to conceal the unlawful origin of funds through bank accounts and large-scale property acquisitions between 2015 and 2025—a period that includes Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired to disguise the source of funds, acquire properties indirectly and retain proceeds believed to be linked to unlawful activities, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
In one of the counts, the commission alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal over ₦1 billion in a bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The interim forfeiture order remains in force pending the conclusion of proceedings and a determination on whether the assets will be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at about ₦213 billion, which are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order after granting an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
The properties, spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, include luxury homes, hotels, plazas, warehouses and vast parcels of land. Although the ruling was delivered on Tuesday, a certified true copy of the order became public on Wednesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the assets were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities” and should be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government pending further proceedings.
The court also directed the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order in a national daily, inviting any individual or organisation with an interest in the properties to appear within 14 days and show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be made.
The case was adjourned to January 27 for a report on compliance.
High-value assets listed
Among the properties listed for interim forfeiture are several prime assets in Abuja, including a luxury duplex in Maitama valued at nearly ₦6 billion after enhancement, a former hotel facility in Garki reportedly purchased for ₦7 billion, and a five-storey hotel complex in Jabi valued at over ₦8.4 billion after completion.
Other assets include multiple residential properties in Asokoro, Gwarimpa, Apo Legislative Quarters and Wuse II, commercial shops in major plazas and markets, as well as hotels in Maitama and Kano.
The forfeiture list also includes large tracts of land and commercial facilities in Kebbi State, such as a plaza near Birnin Kebbi Market, a 100-hectare parcel of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, and several residential buildings.
In addition, the court order covers properties allegedly acquired through a non-governmental organisation, Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative, including multiple bungalows and over five hectares of land in Kebbi.
Ongoing criminal trial
NAN reports that Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently standing trial before the same court on an ₦8.7 billion money laundering charge.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the EFCC named Malami, his wife, his son and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd as defendants.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants engaged in multiple suspicious financial transactions and attempted to conceal the unlawful origin of funds through bank accounts and large-scale property acquisitions between 2015 and 2025—a period that includes Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired to disguise the source of funds, acquire properties indirectly and retain proceeds believed to be linked to unlawful activities, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
In one of the counts, the commission alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal over ₦1 billion in a bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The interim forfeiture order remains in force pending the conclusion of proceedings and a determination on whether the assets will be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
