EFCC Seeks Final Forfeiture Of 57 Properties Linked To ex-AGF, Malami
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order for the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.
The anti-corruption agency made the درخواست through a motion on notice filed by its legal team, led by senior advocates Jibrin Okutepa and Ekele Iheanacho. The application is before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik and is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026.
In the suit, Malami is listed alongside multiple individuals and corporate entities as respondents. These include Hajia Bashir Asabe, Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, Rayhaan Bustan, Agro Allied Ltd, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd, Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd, Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd, Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Rayhaan University Ltd/GTE, Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, Zeenoor Hotels Ltd, Kawsar Ben of Brahim, Alhaji Muktaka Usman Junju, and Real Edge Agro Services Ltd.
The EFCC is asking the court to grant a final forfeiture order under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006. The commission argues that the properties in question are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and should therefore be confiscated by the state through non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings.
According to Okutepa, the court has clear statutory powers to grant such forfeiture even in the absence of a criminal conviction. He further pointed out that an earlier interim forfeiture order—granted by the court and published in ThisDay newspaper on January 9, 2026—was not effectively challenged by the respondents within the stipulated period.
In a supporting affidavit, an EFCC investigating officer, Daniel Adebayo, detailed the scope of the commission’s probe into the assets. He explained that the investigation involved multiple government agencies, including the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Code of Conduct Bureau, Abuja Geographical Information System, and several land registries across the country.
Adebayo stated that the inquiry also included physical inspections of the properties, valuation exercises, and interviews with relevant individuals connected to the assets. He disclosed that Malami’s total legitimate earnings between 2015 and 2023—covering his tenure in public office—were calculated to include a salary of ₦89,664,000, severance allowance of ₦12,158,400, and travel allowances amounting to ₦253,608,500.
The EFCC contends that these declared earnings are significantly disproportionate to the value of the 57 properties under investigation, raising suspicion about the source of funds used for their acquisition. The agency further alleged that some of the properties were purchased through proxies, including individuals and companies believed to be linked to the Rayhaan Group Ltd.
Additionally, the commission claimed that several of the buildings, particularly those located in Kano and Kebbi states, lacked proper building permits. This, according to investigators, suggests deliberate efforts to obscure ownership and conceal the alleged illicit origin of the funds.
The properties listed in the application are spread across multiple locations, including Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states. Among them are temporary and permanent campuses associated with Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, as well as various residential, commercial, and hospitality establishments.
The case has undergone procedural changes since its inception. Initially, Justice Emeka Nwite granted an interim forfeiture order on January 6, 2026, directing that the order be published in a national newspaper to allow any interested parties a 14-day window to contest it.
Subsequently, the matter was reassigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who later recused himself from the case for undisclosed reasons. This development led to the transfer of the case to Justice Abdulmalik, who is now presiding over the proceedings.
Justice Abdulmalik has fixed April 21 for the hearing of the motion seeking final forfeiture of the assets. Meanwhile, Malami and the other respondents have filed counter-applications challenging the EFCC’s claims and seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order, setting the stage for a potentially high-profile legal battle over the disputed properties.
