Court Forfeits Over 40 Properties Linked to Malami

A High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of more than 40 properties linked to the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the respondents failed to dispel the court’s reasonable suspicion that the assets were acquired through unlawful activities.

She stressed that the central issue was not ownership of the properties but the legitimacy of the funds used to obtain them.

Nigerian Government Drops Terrorism Count in Malami Case — Abubakar Malami. Credit: TRT World.

The judge dismissed several applications filed by Malami, members of his family and companies connected to the assets, describing them as lacking merit. Relying on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, she granted the final forfeiture order while lifting the interim forfeiture on some properties.

The EFCC instituted civil forfeiture proceedings in January, seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties valued at ₦212.8 billion and located across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi, and Kaduna states.

Although Malami and other respondents argued that the assets were lawfully acquired and that the commission failed to link them to any specific crime, the court held that the EFCC had established sufficient reasonable suspicion to justify the forfeiture under the law.

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