The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties valued at about N212 billion and linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in a landmark judgment that upheld an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, dismissed all objections filed by Malami, members of his family and several companies that claimed ownership of the properties, holding that their applications lacked merit.
In her ruling, the judge emphasised that the case was not about determining who owned the properties but whether the funds used to acquire them were legitimately earned.
“The issue before the court is not who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties,” Justice Abdulmalik held while granting the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
The ruling followed an interim forfeiture order earlier obtained by the anti-graft agency over 57 properties allegedly linked to the former Attorney-General. After considering the arguments presented by all parties, the court ordered the permanent forfeiture of 48 of the assets to the Federal Government, while the remaining properties were excluded from the final order.
The forfeited assets are spread across the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as well as Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states. They comprise luxury hotels, high-end residential buildings, duplexes, shopping plazas, warehouses, commercial outlets, educational institutions, agricultural and industrial facilities, filling station structures and vast expanses of land acquired over several years.
Among the notable assets are Meethaq Hotels in Maitama and Jabi, Abuja; a luxury duplex in Maitama valued at nearly N6 billion after renovation; a five-storey hotel complex in Jabi; terraces in Asokoro; commercial properties in Wuse; and several residential buildings in Gwarimpa, Apo Legislative Quarters and Karsana.
Also affected are major investments in Kebbi State, including the permanent, temporary and third campuses of Rayhaan University, collectively valued at over N96 billion, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor’s lodge, Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, factory buildings, machinery, staff quarters, mosque and other associated facilities.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of Azbir Hotel and several adjoining businesses, including a printing press, gallery, gardens, pharmacy, supermarket, clothing outlet and mosque. Other assets in Kebbi covered by the order include Rayhaan Model Academy, Rayhaan Primary and Secondary School, Rayhaan Radio, an oil and gas filling station structure, an uncompleted commercial plaza, a tanker garage, foundation buildings, luxury residential houses allegedly linked to Malami and two of his sons, and other commercial developments.
In Kano State, the forfeiture order covers Zeennoor Hotel, a 131-room hospitality facility located in Kabuga Satellite Town, its adjoining mosque, an older hotel building, Rayhaan Hotel opposite Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and a multi-storey gym complex.
Other assets affected by the judgment include properties in Kaduna State, shopping units in Abuja, commercial warehouses in Wuse Market, bungalows and over 100 hectares of land in Birnin Kebbi, as well as residential estates acquired through different entities and organisations.
The EFCC had approached the court, arguing that investigations showed the properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and should therefore be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. The commission maintained that the respondents failed to provide satisfactory evidence establishing the legitimacy of the funds used to acquire the assets.
Counsel representing Malami, his family members and the companies named in the proceedings challenged the application, insisting that the properties were lawfully acquired and urging the court to set aside the interim forfeiture order.
However, Justice Abdulmalik rejected the objections, ruling that the respondents failed to disprove the EFCC’s case or establish that the assets were acquired through legitimate means. She consequently granted the commission’s application for final forfeiture.
The decision ranks among the most significant asset forfeiture rulings in Nigeria in recent years, both in the scale of the properties involved and their estimated value of N212 billion. The judgment effectively transfers ownership of the 48 forfeited assets to the Federal Government, marking another major victory for the EFCC in its ongoing anti-corruption campaign.