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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) to the Federal Government. Delivering judgment, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had established sufficient legal grounds to show that the assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, thereby justifying their permanent forfeiture.
The forfeited assets form part of 57 properties earlier placed under an interim forfeiture order. They include residential and commercial buildings, undeveloped plots, an agro-allied factory, a university campus and other high-value properties located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states. The court held that the respondents failed to satisfactorily prove that the assets were acquired through legitimate means within the period allowed by law.
According to the published list, the 48 forfeited assets comprise:
Residential duplexes and apartments in Abuja.
Commercial plazas and office buildings.
A university campus.
An agro-allied processing factory.
Hotels and event centres.
Numerous residential houses and undeveloped plots of land across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States.
The ruling marks a major victory for the EFCC in one of Nigeria’s largest asset recovery cases in recent years. Malami, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, is facing separate criminal proceedings over alleged money laundering and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
