THE Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties valued at N212 billion linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the final forfeiture application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and dismissed multiple objections raised by Mr Malami, his family members, and various companies claiming ownership of the properties, ruling that they all lacked merit.
In her judgment, the judge held that the central issue before the court was not “who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties.”
The forfeited assets span Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states and include luxury hotels, duplexes, plazas, warehouses, shopping units, and residential estates acquired over several years.
Among the properties to be handed over to the federal government are the luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd in Jabi and Maitama, Abuja, valued at N8.4 billion and N12.95 billion respectively, as well as the sprawling Rayhaan University sites in Kebbi State valued at over N96 billion.
Other significant assets include the Zeennoor Hotel in Kano with 131 rooms valued at N11.2 billion, the Azbir Hotel in Kebbi valued at N10.3 billion, and multiple residential properties in highbrow areas of Abuja including Maitama, Asokoro, and Wuse II.
The EFCC had initially secured an interim forfeiture order on 57 properties before the court’s final ruling which saw nine of them discharged from forfeiture.
Justice Abdulmalik’s ruling reaffirmed the anti-graft agency’s position that assets acquired through questionable means remain liable to forfeiture regardless of who holds legal title.
The former AGF has yet to issue a public statement regarding the court’s decision.
