A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after granting an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. The properties, described as multi-billion naira assets, are spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.
Although the ruling was delivered on Tuesday, a certified true copy of the order was sighted on Wednesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). In his decision, Justice Nwite stated that the properties listed are “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities” and should, for now, be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The court also directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily. This publication is meant to invite any individual or organisation claiming interest in the affected properties to appear within 14 days and show reasons why a final forfeiture order should not be made.
The judge adjourned the matter to January 37 for a report on compliance with the order.
The assets affected by the ruling include several luxury properties, hotels, duplexes, plazas, shops, warehouses, large parcels of land, and residential buildings in high-value locations such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, Wuse, Jabi, Apo Legislative Quarters, Nasarawa GRA in Kano, Birnin Kebbi, and parts of Kaduna. Some of the properties were reportedly acquired for hundreds of millions of naira and later valued at several billions after development or renovation.
NAN further reported that Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently standing trial over an alleged ₦8.7 billion money-laundering case before the same court.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the EFCC listed Malami, his wife, his son, and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd — a firm allegedly linked to the former minister — as defendants. The anti-graft agency accused them of engaging in multiple suspicious financial transactions and attempting to conceal the illegal origin of large sums of money through bank accounts and property acquisitions.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences occurred between 2015 and 2025, covering the period Malami served as Attorney-General of the Federation under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The commission further alleged that Malami, his wife, and son conspired to disguise the source of funds, indirectly acquire properties, and retain money they allegedly knew came from unlawful activities, in violation of Nigeria’s Money Laundering laws.
One of the counts claims 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 Sterling Bank account, despite allegedly knowing the funds were proceeds of illegal activity.
The case remains ongoing as the court awaits compliance reports and responses from interested parties regarding the forfeited assets.
