A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at about N213.2 billion, allegedly linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru-Rahman Malami.
The order was made by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The application was moved by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, who urged the court to temporarily forfeit the assets to the Federal Government pending the conclusion of investigations and possible final forfeiture proceedings.
According to court documents, the properties are reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of unlawful activities and are located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.
The EFCC placed the total estimated value of the assets at N213,234,120,000.
In granting the application, Justice Nwite held that the anti-graft agency had presented sufficient material to warrant the interim forfeiture.
“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 ruled.
The court further directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in any national daily newspaper. The publication, Justice Nwite said, should invite any individual or organisation claiming interest in any of the listed properties to appear before the court within 14 days of the publication to show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance with the court’s directives.
The interim forfeiture order comes amid ongoing criminal proceedings involving members of the Malami family.
Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently standing trial before the same court over alleged money laundering offences involving the sum of N8.7 billion.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the ch arges.A breakdown of the properties listed in the forfeiture schedule reveals a wide range of high-value assets, including luxury residential buildings, hotels, schools, commercial plazas, filling stations, warehouses, farmlands and undeveloped parcels of land.
Among the assets is a luxury duplex located on Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, within Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja, reportedly purchased in December 2022 for N500 million and later enhanced to an estimated value of N5.95 billion.
Also listed is a two-winged, large storey building at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Abuja — formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited, allegedly acquired in December 2018 for N7 billion.
Another major asset is a five-storey hotel building on Plot 683, Jabi District, now operating as Meethaq Hotels, which Ltd with 53 rooms and suites.
The EFCC stated that the property was purchased at carcass level in September 2020 for N850 million, with an additional N300 million paid to take possession, bringing its current estimated value to N8.4 billion.
Other notable properties include a hotel facility on Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, acquired in February 2018 for N430 million and now valued at about N12.95 billion after rehabilitation; terraces in Asokoro District purchased in January 2021 for N360 million; and several high-end residential properties in Asokoro, Gwarimpa, Wuse II and Apo Legislative Quarters.
Commercial assets listed in the schedule include shops at Citiscape-Shariff Plaza and Vegas Mall in Abuja, warehouses in Wuse Market, and a plaza with ancillary facilities in Kano.
The EFCC also listed agricultural and industrial assets, including 100 hectares of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, reportedly purchased in 2020 for N100 million, and factory buildings with machines.
In Kebbi State, properties allegedly linked to the defendants include bungalows in Birnin Kebbi, land assets, and multiple housing units acquired under the Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at the Academic Garden City, reportedly purchased between February and September 2023.
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