The Federal Government has secured a major victory in its fight against illicit wealth as a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the permanent forfeiture of 48 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.In a judgment delivered on July 15, 2026, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established a reasonable suspicion that the assets were acquired through unlawful activities and not from legitimate income.
The ruling marks the conclusion of a civil forfeiture case that began with an interim order in January and puts assets worth over ₦212 billion under government control.
The Court’s Decision and Legal Basis
Justice Abdulmalik dismissed objections raised by Malami, who served as Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, and by family members and associates listed as respondents. The court held that the central legal question was not “who owns the property, but how legitimate were the funds used to acquire them”. It found that Malami failed to rebut the reasonable suspicion that the properties were proceeds of crime.
Relying on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, the judge ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government.The EFCC had originally sought the forfeiture of 57 properties. After reviewing evidence, the court found credible proof of genuine ownership for nine of them and exempted those from the order.
An interim forfeiture order was first granted on January 6, 2026, with a 14-day window for interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently seized. That deadline expired before the final judgment.
What Properties Are Involved
The 57 forfeited assets are spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna and represent a mix of residential, commercial, and institutional properties. According to court filings and EFCC schedules, they include:
Rayhaan University sites and buildings.
Luxury hotels such as Meethaq Hotels in Abuja, including a 53-room facility in Jabi and a 15-room property in Maitama.
A duplex with boys’ quarters on Yalinga Street, Wuse II, Abuja.
Warehouses, shops, filling stations, schools, mosques, and an agro-allied factory.
Multiple residential bungalows and hectares of land under the Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative in Birnin Kebbi.
The EFCC had valued the entire set of 57 properties at about ₦212.8 billion.
Malami’s Defence and the EFCC’s Case
Malami, through his legal team led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, and Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, opposed the application. Counsel argued that the properties were lawfully acquired, declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau in 2019 and 2023, and in some cases inherited or purchased before he assumed office.In affidavits, Malami listed sources of income including business turnover, loans, gifts, and proceeds from the launch of his book “Contemporary Issues on Nigerian Law and Practice”. He contended that the interim order was obtained by suppression of material facts and misrepresentation.
The EFCC, represented by counsel Wahab Shittu, SAN, countered with a 77-paragraph affidavit supported by exhibits, insisting the assets were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities”. The commission urged the court to dismiss all opposing applications and grant final forfeiture.
Parallel Criminal Proceedings
The forfeiture case runs alongside a separate criminal charge. Malami, his wife Bashir Asabe, and his son Abubakar Abdulaziz are facing 16 counts of money laundering and conspiracy involving billions of naira before the same Federal High Court. The charges relate to an alleged N8.7 billion money laundering scheme. Malami has pleaded not guilty.
What This Means for Anti-Graft Efforts
The EFCC described the judgment as a significant win against illicit wealth, noting that the forfeited properties will now be transferred to government coffers to bolster public funds.
Forfeiture proceedings under Nigerian law allow the state to seize assets suspected to be proceeds of crime even without a criminal conviction, provided the agency proves reasonable suspicion. Justice Abdulmalik’s ruling reinforces that standard.
Legal analysts say the case also highlights growing judicial scrutiny of asset declarations by public officers. The court rejected the argument that declaration to the Code of Conduct Bureau automatically legitimizes wealth, stressing instead the need to prove lawful sources.
With the final forfeiture order now in place, the 57 properties are to be handed over to the Federal Government. It remains unclear whether the government will auction, repurpose, or convert the assets for public use.
Malami’s legal team may still pursue appeals, but for now the judgment stands as one of the largest asset recoveries linked to a former cabinet member in recent years.
As the EFCC continues its prosecution on the money laundering charges, the forfeiture sends a clear signal: public office is not a shield against accountability, and unexplained wealth will face the full weight of the law.
