- Ex-AGF gets 14 days to prove they are lawfully acquired •Former minister, others get bail
The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and members of his family.
The properties, valued at about N213.23 billion, were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which invoked the Non-Conviction Based Asset Forfeiture provisions of the EFCC Establishment Act.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who made the order, however, granted Malami, his sons Abdulaziz and Abiru-Rahman and any other interested parties 14 days to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
Failure to establish that the properties were lawfully acquired within the stipulated period may result in their final forfeiture to the Federal Government.
The order followed an ex-parte motion moved by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), who argued that the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
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In granting the application, Justice Nwite ruled: “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule 1 below which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The judge further directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily, inviting any person or entity with an interest in the properties to approach the court within 14 days to contest the forfeiture.
The case was adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance with the court’s directives.
EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, said the affected properties are located in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi states.
They include luxury residences, hotels, schools, shopping complexes, oil and gas facilities, farmlands, and commercial buildings.
Among the notable properties listed in the schedule are:
• A luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, purchased in December 2022 for N500 million, with its value reportedly enhanced to about N5.95 billion.
• A two-winged multi-storey building at Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited, acquired in December 2018 for N7 billion.
• A five-storey hotel complex in Jabi District, now operating as Meethaq Hotels Ltd with 53 rooms, reportedly valued at N8.4 billion after completion.
• A hotel property on Rhine Street, Maitama, purchased in 2018 for N430 million, now allegedly worth N12.95 billion after rehabilitation.
• Multiple properties in the Asokoro District, including terraces and plots along Yakubu Gowon Crescent.
• Commercial shops at Vegas Mall, Wuse 2, warehouse shops at Wuse Market, and residential buildings in Gwarimpa, Apo Legislative Quarters, and BUA Estate, Abuja.
• High-value properties in Nasarawa GRA, Kano, including residential and commercial buildings.
• Over 100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, purchased in 2020 for N100 million.
• Many residential estates, schools, bungalows, and land assets acquired between 2023 and 2024 in Birnin Kebbi, allegedly through proxies and corporate entities.
Court grants ex-minister, others N1.5bn bail
The interim forfeiture order came in the course of Malami’s ongoing trial over alleged money laundering involving about N8.7 billion.
Justice Nwite granted bail to Malami, his son, Abdulaziz, and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.
The bail is in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties each.
The three defendants are being prosecuted on a 16-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, filed by the EFCC.
The commission alleged that Malami and his two co-defendants conspired to disguise the origin of funds estimated at N8.7 billion.
It said they acquired properties indirectly, and retained sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
Justice Nwite had, on January 2, taken arguments on the bail applications by the three defendants and adjourned till January 7 for ruling.
Ruling yesterday, Justice Nwite said: “I have critically evaluated the evidence adduced by both parties. I am not unmindful of the serious nature of the offence and the attendant economic consequences to our country, Nigeria.
“But, like I earlier emphasised in the course of this ruling, the paramount concern of a judge, in granting or refusing bail pending trial, remains the applicant making himself available to stand his trial and/or not interfering with witnesses, especially when the offence is not a capital offence.
“There is no gainsaying that the reasons adduced by the complainant/respondent on this point are not concrete enough, but tilt towards the realm of speculation.
“In view of the foregoing, I am minded to grant the defendants/applicants bail in the interest of justice. Consequently, bail is granted to the first, second and third defendants in the following terms:
• Bail is granted to each of the defendants in the sum of N500 million and two sureties in the like sum, who shall each depose to affidavits of means.
• The two sureties shall be landed property owners in either Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarimpa within this jurisdiction, and the documents must be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court and deposited with him.
• The defendants shall deposit all their international passports with the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation) of the court and shall not travel outside the country without the permission of this court.
• The defendants and sureties shall deposit two passport photographs each, and the sureties’ residences shall be verified,” the judge said.
Justice Nwite, however, cautioned parties in the case against attempting to reach out to him for any favour in the course of the proceedings.
Although the judge did not state whether any of the parties had attempted to contact him, he stressed that nobody could influence the decision of his court in any way.
Justice Nwite said: “Before concluding, I want to admonish and warn counsel and litigants that all judges are not the same.
“When I am handling any case, please don’t approach me. When you are doing your case, you can get the best lawyers in this country to handle it, but don’t attempt to approach me for any help.
“I am not that type of judge. I know what God has done for me by giving me this job, and I have vowed to do it to the best of my ability.
“I have sworn before Almighty God and man that I am going to do my duty without fear or favour,” he said.
Justice Nwite warned lawyers and litigants to desist from coming to him with the aim of perverting justice, adding:
“Any attempt to try this will be vehemently resisted.”
The judge advised that rather than seeking to compromise the court, parties should concentrate their efforts on prosecuting their cases and, if dissatisfied, challenge the court’s decisions by approaching the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter until February 17 for the commencement of trial.
