A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 assets linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), over alleged unlawful acquisition.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that Malami, members of his family and other claimants failed to disprove the EFCC’s suspicion that the properties were proceeds of unlawful activities. The court, however, lifted the interim forfeiture order on nine other assets.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order on 57 assets valued at about ₦212.8 billion, located across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi and Kaduna States, before seeking permanent forfeiture.
The assets include hotels, schools, filling stations, commercial plazas, luxury homes, warehouses, farmlands, factories and university buildings. Among them are high-value properties in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse II and Garki in Abuja.
The judge held that the issue before the court was not ownership of the assets but whether the funds used to acquire them were legally obtained. She dismissed applications by Malami and other claimants seeking to retain the properties.
Malami, his wife, Nana Hadiza, his son, Abdulaziz, and firms linked to them had argued that the assets were lawfully acquired after the EFCC published the interim forfeiture order in line with court directives.
Malami, his wife and son are currently facing a 16-count money laundering charge involving an alleged ₦8.7 billion, while Malami and his son are also standing trial in a separate case over alleged unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The money laundering trial is scheduled to continue tomorrow.
