Massive Property Seizure Rocks Nigeria: Billions Linked to Malami Under FG Control

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a final forfeiture order for 48 properties alleged to be linked to Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. This significant ruling came after the court determined that the respondents, including Malami, his family members, and associated companies, failed to provide sufficient evidence to counter the reasonable suspicion that these properties were acquired through illegal means.

Prior to delivering the substantive judgment, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed numerous motions and applications filed by the respondents, which sought to challenge the interim forfeiture order. She explicitly stated that these applications lacked merit, underscoring that the central focus of the court's inquiry was the lawful origin of the funds used to purchase the assets, rather than merely their ownership. The judge reiterated that the respondents "have not dislodged the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired through unlawful activities." The final forfeiture order was primarily based on the provisions of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, although the interim forfeiture for a portion of the properties was vacated.

The legal proceedings were initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in January 2026, when it filed civil forfeiture applications. The commission originally sought the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties, with an estimated cumulative value of ₦212.8 billion, asserting that these assets were proceeds of illicit activities traceable to Malami. The properties in question are geographically dispersed across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi, and Kaduna states.

An interim forfeiture order was initially granted on January 16, 2026, by vacation judge Justice Emeka Nwite, who also instructed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper. This publication served as a public invitation for any party with a legitimate interest in the specified assets to appear before the court and demonstrate why the properties should not be permanently relinquished to the Federal Government. In response to this, Malami, his wife Nana Hadiza Malami, his son Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, and several companies connected to the assets, lodged formal objections.

The respondents contested the EFCC's application, seeking the dismissal of the case and the reversal of the interim order. They argued that the properties were acquired through lawful means, positing that the EFCC's claims were speculative and lacked credible evidence, failing to establish any direct link to specific criminal offenses. Upon the resumption of the Federal High Court from its annual vacation, the case was reassigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.

During subsequent hearings, the EFCC steadfastly maintained its position, asserting that its investigations had revealed that the properties were indeed acquired using proceeds from unlawful activities and were held by proxies acting on behalf of Malami. The commission emphasized that, under the relevant legal framework, it only needed to establish a "reasonable suspicion" of illicit acquisition, rather than prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The final written addresses were adopted by both legal teams in late May 2026, following which Justice Abdulmalik reserved her judgment, culminating in the recent forfeiture order.