Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at approximately N213.23 billion, allegedly 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 made on Tuesday by Justice Emeka Nwite, following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and should, therefore, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government pending the determination of the case.
“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 that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily newspaper, inviting any individual or organisation with an interest in the listed assets to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance with the publication order.
According to the EFCC, the forfeited assets are spread across Abuja (Federal Capital Territory), Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.
The commission said the properties comprise a wide range of high-value residential, commercial and institutional developments allegedly acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
The assets include luxury duplexes, hotels, schools, shopping plazas, supermarkets, pharmacies, oil and gas filling stations, warehouses, agro-allied factories, farmlands and other commercial buildings.
Among the notable properties listed in the forfeiture schedule are a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, purchased in December 2022 for N500 million and later upgraded to an estimated value of N5.95 billion; a two-winged storey building on Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, formerly operating as Harmonia Hotels Limited, acquired in December 2018 for N7 billion; and a five-storey hotel building on Plot 683, Jabi District, now operating as Meethaq Hotels Limited with 53 rooms and currently valued at about N8.4 billion.
Also affected are several properties in Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse II, Gwarimpa and the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja, including hotels, terraces, residential estates, warehouse shops and commercial outlets in malls and markets.
In Kano State, the listed assets include buildings in Nasarawa GRA and Lamido Crescent, while in Kebbi State, the properties comprise over 100 hectares of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, residential buildings and housing estate developments.
Properties in Kaduna State, including a four-bedroom bungalow with boys’ quarters in Abakpa GRA, are also covered by the interim forfeiture order.
The EFCC further disclosed that some of the assets were allegedly acquired through entities and initiatives linked to the Malami family, including educational institutions, agro-allied facilities and development projects.
The interim forfeiture order comes amid an ongoing criminal trial involving the former Attorney-General.
Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and one of his sons, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, are currently standing trial before Justice Nwite over alleged money laundering involving N8.7 billion.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC said the court order formed part of its efforts to recover assets suspected to be proceeds of corruption and other economic crimes.
The commission stressed that the interim forfeiture does not amount to a final declaration of ownership, noting that interested parties retain the right to challenge the action before the court within the time allowed by law.
