The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary seizure of 57 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, pending further proceedings.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the interim forfeiture on Wednesday after an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The agency told the court it had reasonable grounds to suspect the assets were proceeds of unlawful activity.
According to court filings, the properties are spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states. They include luxury hotels, high-end duplexes, shopping plazas, warehouses and residential estates.
Among the listed assets are a duplex in Maitama valued at about ₦5.95 billion, a two-wing building in Garki formerly housing Harmonia Hotels, and Meethaq Hotels Limited properties in Jabi and Maitama. Others include terrace houses in Asokoro, residential units in Gwarimpa, Apo Legislative Quarters and Wuse II, as well as commercial properties in Wuse Market, Vegas Mall and Shariff Plaza.
Justice Nwite ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture notice in a national newspaper. He invited any individual or organisation with a legal interest in the properties to approach the court within 14 days to challenge the order. The case was adjourned to later in January for a compliance report.
The forfeiture process is running alongside a criminal case involving Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz. The EFCC has charged them with money laundering involving ₦8.7 billion.
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Prosecutors allege that between 2015 and 2025, the defendants used complex financial transactions and property purchases to conceal illicit funds. One charge accuses Malami and his son of hiding more than ₦1 billion through a firm, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, between 2022 and 2025.
The interim order places the assets under government control until the court reaches a final decision. Malami has denied all allegations and was granted bail in the sum of ₦500 million earlier on Wednesday.
