- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has formally asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant a final order forfeiting 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government
- The properties in question are estimated to be worth about N213.2 billion
- The Commission clarified that the application is based on non-conviction forfeiture
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking a final order to permanently forfeit 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.
In a motion on notice filed before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the anti-graft agency argued that the respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn an earlier interim forfeiture order granted by the court.
The application, filed by EFCC’s legal team led by Jibrin Okutepa and Ekele Iheanacho, lists Malami, Hajia Bashir Asabe, Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, and several companies allegedly linked to the assets as respondents.
The EFCC is relying on provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, requesting “a final order of this honourable court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the properties described in the schedule below, which were found by the commission as properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
Arguing the case, Okutepa emphasised that the process is a non-conviction-based forfeiture proceeding, noting that the court has the authority to grant the request.
He said:
“This honourable court made an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“The order of the honourable court has been published in a national daily, namely THISDAY Newspaper of 9th January, 2026.
“No sufficient cause has been shown why the properties under the interim forfeiture order should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
In an affidavit submitted by EFCC investigator Daniel Adebayo, the commission disclosed that it received multiple petitions alleging corruption, abuse of office, and fraud against the former minister.
According to Adebayo, investigations included obtaining financial records from banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria, alongside inquiries from agencies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Code of Conduct Bureau, and the Abuja Geographical Information System.
He added that land registries in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Kano states were also examined, while the properties were physically verified and valued. Individuals connected to the transactions were invited for questioning.
Adebayo further stated that Malami’s earnings while in office between 2015 and 2023 did not match the value of the assets under investigation.
“I know as a fact and verily believe the findings of the investigation, which are as follows:
“Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN) was the Hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, hereinafter referred to as HAGF, from 2015 to 2023.
“He was paid a total of N89,664,000.00 as salary between 2015 and 2023, whilst in office, with an average payment of N962,663.68 per month.
“He also received a severance allowance of N12,158,400.00 at the end of his tenure in office.
“Mr Malami SAN was also paid estacodes allowances to cover his travel expenses whenever he travelled outside the country on official trips.
“He calculated and declared a total sum of N253,608,500.00 as the amount he received for the official trips between 2015 and 2023 in a letter written to the Chairman of the CCB as an addendum to his Assets Declaration Form in June 2023.
“Attached and collectively marked as Exhibit EFCC 2 & 3 are copies of the asset declaration forms filled out by Mr Malami SAN from 2015 to 2023, together with a letter dated 16th of June, 2023, written by him to the Chairman of the CCB as an addendum to the asset declaration form as found at his house during EFCC’s execution of a search warrant.”
The investigator also alleged irregularities in the acquisition process of several properties.
“Aside from the actual acquisition of the properties which are manifestly disproportionate to Mr Malami SAN‘s known and lawful sources of income, no building permits/approvals from appropriate authorities were obtained to erect most of the various structures in Kano and Kebbi states as part of a scheme to disguise the unlawful origin of the funds used to acquire the assets.”
He added that some of the properties were allegedly acquired through proxies and corporate entities linked to the former minister.
The EFCC identified 57 landed properties across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states, including assets tied to Rayhaan University in Kebbi.
Justice Abdulmalik has fixed April 21 for the hearing of the motion.
The case follows an earlier ruling delivered on January 8, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted an interim forfeiture order after an ex parte application by the EFCC.
The court had directed that the properties, valued at about N213.2 billion, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government and instructed the EFCC to publish the order to allow interested parties 14 days to show cause.
Following the publication, Malami and other respondents challenged the forfeiture, asking the court to set aside the interim order.