The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted the request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the interim forfeiture of multi-billion naira landed property linked to a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Malami served as AGF and Minister of Justice during the eight-year administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The property, which are 57 in number, were valued at N213,234,120,000 and are located in different parts of the country, including Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States.
Some of the property were also linked to two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru-Rahman Malami, as well as his wife, Asabe Bashir.
While some property linked to Malami in Abuja and Kano remained operational Wednesday evening, some of those located in Kebbi State had been sealed.
The EFCC’s request for Malami’s assets’ forfeiture was granted on Tuesday, though the certified true copy of the court’s ruling was released to the media yesterday.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the forfeiture order following an ex-parte motion by counsel to the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
The property include: Rayhaan University buildings, agro-allied factory buildings, machines, hotels, pharmacy, supermarket, primary and secondary schools, oil and gas filling stations, shops and other buildings.
In granting the forfeiture order, Justice Nwite ruled that, “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.”
He directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily “inviting any person(s) or body(ies) who may have interest in the properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said assets and properties should not be made.”
The judge adjourned the matter to January 27, 2026, for a report of compliance.
Some of the property:
A luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011 within Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama; File No: AN enhancement 11352, which was purchased in December 2022 at N500,000,000.00 (value after enhancement at N5,950,000,000).
A two-winged large storey building at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Cadastral Zone A03, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), FCT, which was purchased in December 2018 at N7,000,000,000.
Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, comprising a five-storey building (now Luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi, with 53 rooms/suites), which was purchased in September 2020 at carcass level at N850,000,000 with additional N300,000,000 to take possession (value after completion N8,400,000,000).
Property No. 3130 within Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja, comprising terraces, purchased in January 2021 at N360,000,000.
Property No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Limited, Maitama, with 15 rooms), which was purchased in February 2018 at N430,000,000 (current value after rehabilitation is N12,950,000,000).
Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent), Asokoro District, which was purchased in July 2021 at N325,000,000.
Shop No. C82, Citiscape — Shariff Plaza, Plot 739, Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, FCT, Abuja, which was purchased in March 2024 at N120,000,000.
No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, which was purchased in December 2022 at N300,000,000.
Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in July 2019 with no specific amount stated.
A plaza, commercial toilets, laundering, warehouse tanks adjacent.
100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, which was purchased in 2020 at N100,000,000.
A four-bedroom bungalow, Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, which was purchased in 2023 at N101,000,000.
Shops Nos. A36, B3, Vegas Mall, Wuse 2, Abuja, which was purchased in July 2023 at N158,000,000.
No. 26, Babbi Drive, Bua Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 at N136,000,000.
No. 27, Efab Estates Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, purchased in January 2016 at N120,000,000.
Four-bedroom/2-room boys’ quarters at No. 10B, Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 at N40,000,000.00.
Plot No. 13, Ipent 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, purchased in June 2018 at N85,000,000.
A bedroom duplex and boys’ quarters at No. 12, Yalinga Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in Oct. 2018 at N150,000,000.
Two warehouse shops, B40 and B46, Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 at N50,000,000.
Twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Cadastral Zone B01, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, which were purchased between February and May 2017 at N250,000,000.
Property acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at the Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, sold by the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage.
Others are nine units of three-bedroom bungalow, three units of two-bedroom bungalow and 5.4 hectares of land, which were purchased between February 2023 and September 2023 at N187,000,000, among other assets listed in the schedule.
Malami’s Kano, Abuja hotels operational, assets in Kebbi sealed
Checks by our correspondents showed that Malami’s Azbir Arena and Azbir Hotel located at the bypass area of Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State, as well as his Rayhaan Radio Station, all of which were sealed few days ago, had not been opened as operatives of the EFCC were still there yesterday.
Al-Rayyan Hotel in Kano, a property linked to the former AGF, remained fully operational as of Wednesday evening. Our correspondent, who visited the place, observed that normal activities were going on there, with guests and staff moving freely.
There were no law enforcement agents there.
Similarly, Meethaq Hotels, located at Plot 683, Cadastral Zone B04, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way, Jabi District, Abuja, also linked to Malami in Abuja, was found operational when visited by our reporter on Wednesday.
We have many Malamis that should be tried for corruption – CISLAC
Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has welcomed the interim forfeiture order granted by a court on 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, saying the development underlines the necessity of applying the rule of law to all Nigerians irrespective of status or political affiliation.
Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, Rafsanjani said no individual should be exempted from investigation or prosecution where credible allegations of wrongdoing exist, stressing that accountability is key to restoring public confidence and reducing impunity.
He said, “If you have not stolen or looted or mismanaged public funds, I don’t think anybody is going to arrest you and start prosecuting you. But if anybody is accused of doing things that are against the law, no matter the position he or she held, the law should be applied accordingly.”
According to him, the interim forfeiture order does not amount to a final conviction but represents a judicial opinion that the affected properties may not have been lawfully acquired.
“For now, he has not been able to convince the court about his innocence. This is just for the properties allegedly linked to him,” he said.
“Since it is an interim judgment, if at the end of the day Malami is able to prove that he did not acquire them through corrupt means, the law will come to his rescue.”
Rafsanjani argued that the case should not be viewed in isolation, insisting that many politically exposed persons have questions to answer over alleged looting of public resources.
“I believe we have so many ‘Malamis’. If we are serious, all persons the anti-corruption agencies have evidence against should face the same consequences. Even if this regime does not try them, another regime will come and they will answer to justice,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to avoid ethnic or partisan sentiments in corruption cases, saying selective sympathy weakens the fight against graft.
Responding to allegations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) targets opposition figures while shielding allies of the ruling party, Rafsanjani said anti-graft agencies must be guided strictly by law and integrity.
He maintained that the EFCC is being watched locally and internationally and must therefore act professionally.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are in the opposition or the ruling party. The question is: have you committed a crime?” he said. “If you have committed a crime, you will face justice. Even if those in the ruling party today are not touched, another government will touch them tomorrow.”
Rafsanjani called for strong public support for anti-corruption institutions, saying sustained pressure is needed to tackle the corruption he blamed for underdevelopment and widespread suffering.
“We must support EFCC and ICPC. Corruption has thrown this country into darkness, underdevelopment, insecurity, hunger and hopelessness,” he said. “As long as they act according to the law and justice, they will always get my support.”
He warned that failure to punish corruption sends the wrong message to young Nigerians.
“You are sending a wrong signal to the younger generation, that it is only when you are corrupt that you are recognised. We need to change that narrative,” Rafsanjani added.
Court fixes Feb 17 for ex-AGF’s trial, grants N500m bail
Earlier yesterday, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted Malami, his son, Abdulaziz, and wife, Bashir Asabe, N500 million bail bond each and two sureties each in like sum, and fixed their trial for February 17.
The EFCC had filed a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering against the trio Malami over alleged financial transactions amounting to about N8.7 billion.
Justice Nwite ordered that the two sureties must have landed properties in Maitama, Asokoro or Gwarimpa.
The judge further directed that the documents of the properties are to be verified by the deputy chief registrar of the court, while the sureties are also to depose to an affidavit of means.
The judge said Malami was to deposit his travelling documents with the court and must not travel out of the country without the express permission of the court.
Besides, the former AGF and his sureties were also ordered to deposit their two recent passport photographs with the court.
The judge ordered Malami to be remanded in Nigerian Correctional Service in Kuje, FCT, pending his perfection of the bail conditions.
Following the ruling, close associates of the former minister were seen making efforts to fulfill the bail terms.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Shortly after granting the bail to Malami, Justice Nwite warned lawyers and litigants against any attempt to influence judicial decisions, saying such conduct would be firmly resisted.
Addressing the court, Nwite cautioned against approaching him outside the courtroom in a bid to sway proceedings.
“Before concluding, I want to admonish and warn counsel and litigants that all judges are not the same,” he said.
“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 do your case, but don’t attempt to approach me for any help.
“I am not the 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.
“Any attempt to try this will be vehemently resisted.”
Nwite said parties dissatisfied with his rulings should seek redress through the appellate courts, noting that his decisions could be tested at the Court of Appeal and, ultimately, the Supreme Court.
Malami denies bribery allegations, accuses EFCC of media trial
Meanwhile, the former AGF, Malami, has denied allegations suggesting that individuals linked to him attempted to bribe the presiding judge in his ongoing trial, accusing the EFCC of conducting a “media trial.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami described a recent EFCC press release as misleading and deliberately framed to tarnish his reputation.
The statement categorically denied that anyone from Malami’s legal team, family, office or associates approached, or attempted to approach, the court or the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, for any improper favour.
According to Malami’s office, the former justice minister is a law-abiding citizen and senior legal practitioner who fully understands and respects the independence and sanctity of the judiciary. It noted that the integrity and incorruptible reputation of Justice Nwite were well known, making any alleged attempt at undue influence implausible.
Clarifying the issue, the statement explained that comments attributed to Justice Nwite during proceedings at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, were routine cautions issued to all counsel and litigants. It said the judge is known for consistently warning parties against attempting to approach him outside formal court proceedings as part of his long-standing judicial practice.
Malami’s camp argued that the EFCC wrongly singled him out by presenting the general judicial admonition as evidence of attempted bribery, describing the move as dishonest and sensational.
The statement further stressed that Malami and his co-defendants have submitted to the court’s jurisdiction, complied with all lawful orders and remain confident that the judicial process will vindicate them.
It urged the EFCC to stop misleading the public and prejudicing ongoing proceedings, insisting that allegations should be proven in court rather than through press releases.
Daily Trust
