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By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, to the Federal Government.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, Mr Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria,NAN, the multi-billion-naira landed properties are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.
Although the order was made on Tuesday, its Certified True Copy (CTC) was sighted by the agency on Wednesday.
“It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is 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.
Justice Nwite also directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily, inviting any individual or organisation with interest in the listed properties to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.
The judge adjourned the matter until January 27 for a report on compliance.
Assets Listed for Interim Forfeiture
The properties include, among others:
A luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja, purchased in December 2022 for ₦500 million (valued at ₦5.95 billion after enhancement).
A two-winged, large storey building at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), purchased in December 2018 for ₦7 billion.
Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, comprising a five-storey building now housing Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi, with 53 rooms and suites, purchased in September 2020 at carcass level for ₦850 million, with an additional ₦300 million paid to take possession (current value ₦8.4 billion).
Property No. 3130, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja, comprising terrace apartments, purchased in January 2021 for ₦360 million.
Property at No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Maitama, with 15 rooms), purchased in February 2018 for ₦430 million and now valued at ₦12.95 billion after rehabilitation.
Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent), purchased in July 2021 for ₦325 million.
Shop No. C82, Citiscape, Shariff Plaza, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in March 2024 for ₦120 million.
No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in December 2022 for ₦300 million.
Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in July 2019 (purchase price not stated).
A plaza with commercial facilities adjacent to Birnin Kebbi Market, purchased in 2021 for ₦100 million.
100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, purchased in 2020 for ₦100 million.
A four-bedroom bungalow at Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, purchased in 2023 for ₦101 million.
Shops A36 and B3, Vegas Mall, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in July 2023 for ₦158 million.
No. 26 Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 for ₦136 million.
No. 27 EFAB Estates Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, purchased in January 2016 for ₦120 million.
A four-bedroom house with two-room boys’ quarters at No. 10B Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 for ₦40 million.
Plot No. 13, IPENT 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, purchased in June 2018 for ₦85 million.
A bedroom duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12 Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in October 2018 for ₦150 million.
Two warehouse shops (B40 and B46) at Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 for ₦50 million.
Twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Cadastral Zone B01, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, purchased between February and May 2017 for ₦250 million.
Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, comprising nine units of three-bedroom bungalows, three units of two-bedroom bungalows, and 5.4 hectares of land, purchased between February and September 2023 for ₦187 million.
NAN further reports that Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently facing an alleged ₦8.7 billion money laundering charge before Justice Nwite.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the EFCC listed Malami, his wife, his son, and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd—a firm linked to the former minister—as the defendants.
The anti-graft agency, in a 16-count charge, accused the defendants of carrying out suspicious transactions and attempting to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi.
The alleged offences were said to have been committed between 2015 and 2025, a period covering Malami’s eight-year tenure as AGF under the administration of late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The EFCC further alleged that Malami, his wife and son conspired to disguise the origin of funds, acquire properties indirectly, and retain sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
In count one of the charge, the commission alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over ₦1 billion (₦1,014,848,500) in a Sterling Bank account, knowing that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
