A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties, which are strongly suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, allegedly linked to Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice. Justice Emeka Nwite granted this order following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho. The properties, collectively valued at several billions of naira, were deemed by the judge as reasonably acquired with illicit funds and were therefore temporarily forfeited to the federal government of Nigeria.

Justice Nwite explicitly 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 court further directed the EFCC to publish this interim forfeiture order in a national daily newspaper. This publication serves to invite any individual or organization claiming an interest in these assets to appear before the court within 14 days and present arguments as to why a final forfeiture order should not be issued. The matter has been adjourned to January 27 for a report on compliance with this publication directive.

Among the extensive list of assets identified for interim forfeiture are several high-value properties across Abuja and Kano, as well as Kebbi State. These include: a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, acquired for N500 million in December 2022 and later enhanced to an estimated value of N5.95 billion; a two-winged storey building at Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja, formerly known as Harmonia Hotels, purchased for N7 billion in December 2018; and a five-storey building on Plot 683, Jabi District, Abuja, now operating as Meethaq Hotels with 53 rooms, initially bought at carcass level for N850 million with an additional N300 million for possession, and valued at N8.4 billion after completion. Other significant properties include a hotel facility at Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, also operating as Meethaq Hotels, purchased for N430 million in February 2018 and later rehabilitated to an estimated N12.95 billion, and a terrace property at Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja, acquired for N360 million. Additional forfeited assets span various residential and commercial units, plots of land, and multiple properties acquired under the Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative in Birnin Kebbi, cumulatively highlighting the vast scale of the alleged illicit acquisitions.

This interim forfeiture order comes amidst an ongoing criminal trial involving Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz. They are currently facing charges bordering on money laundering amounting to N8.7 billion before the same Federal High Court. Earlier, the court had granted Malami, his wife, and his son bail in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties required for each.

In a separate development, Abubakar Malami has vehemently denied allegations suggesting that individuals linked to him attempted to bribe the presiding judge in his ongoing trial. In a statement released on Wednesday by his media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami described a recent press release by the EFCC as "misleading" and deliberately framed to imply an attempt to influence Justice Emeka Nwite. The statement categorically rejected any suggestion that his legal team, family, associates, or office had approached or attempted to approach the judge for any favour, asserting such insinuations were "false and reckless."

Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, emphasized his high regard for the judiciary and expressed full confidence in Justice Nwite's integrity, stating there was no reason or intention for improper engagement with the court. His camp clarified that remarks attributed to Justice Nwite during proceedings were general cautionary warnings routinely issued to all counsel and litigants, not specifically directed at Malami. Furthermore, Malami's team accused the EFCC of "weaponising" a routine judicial admonition, transforming it into a "sensational narrative" aimed at damaging his reputation. The statement criticized the EFCC's approach, suggesting it reinforces concerns of a "media trial" rather than a determination based strictly on evidence and due process. It urged the anti-graft agency to desist from misleading the public or prejudicing ongoing proceedings through press releases, stressing that allegations should be proven in court, not in the media.

Adding another layer of complexity to the legal saga, Malami has also alleged a plot by the Department of State Services (DSS) to re-arrest him from Kuje prison immediately after his release on bail. According to a statement from his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, intelligence indicates that DSS operatives have mounted surveillance at the correctional center to execute this plan based on "trumped-up and unrelated charges." The statement condemned such actions as a "grave assault on constitutional safeguards and an abuse of state power," undermining public confidence in the justice system. Malami's team placed on record that the safety of Malami, his family, and staff is under serious threat, holding those responsible accountable for any intimidation, unlawful detention, or harm.