The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to permanently forfeit 57 properties allegedly connected to a former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.
The anti-graft agency, through its legal team led by Jibrin Okutepa and Ekele Iheanacho, made the request in a motion on notice filed before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The EFCC argued that the respondents failed to provide sufficient grounds to overturn an earlier interim forfeiture order granted by the court.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, listed Malami alongside several individuals and corporate entities as respondents in the matter.
Relying on provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, the commission described the assets as proceeds reasonably suspected to have been derived from unlawful activities.
Counsel to the EFCC submitted that the court possesses the statutory authority to grant a final forfeiture order under a non-conviction-based asset recovery process. He added that the interim order, which was published in a national newspaper in January, had not been effectively challenged.
In a supporting affidavit, an investigating officer with the commission, Daniel Adebayo, detailed the scope of investigations carried out, including checks with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Code of Conduct Bureau, and land registries, as well as site inspections and asset valuation.
According to the affidavit, Malami’s total legitimate earnings between 2015 and 2023 were significantly lower than the estimated value of the properties in question, raising concerns over the source of funds used for their acquisition.
The commission further alleged that some of the assets were acquired through proxies and companies reportedly linked to the former minister, including entities under the Rayhaan Group.
It also claimed that several structures, particularly in Kano and Kebbi states, lacked proper building approvals, suggesting attempts to conceal ownership and origin of the funds.
The properties, spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, include assets linked to educational and hospitality ventures.
Justice Abdulmalik has fixed April 21 for the hearing of the application.
The case originated from an interim forfeiture order granted in January by Justice Emeka Nwite, who directed that the order be published to allow interested parties to contest it.
Following a reassignment of the case after Justice Obiora Egwuatu stepped aside, the matter is now before Justice Abdulmalik.
Malami and other respondents have, however, challenged the proceedings, seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order.
