Abuja – The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 landed properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the forfeiture order on Tuesday following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. A certified true copy of the ruling was sighted by journalists on Wednesday.
According to the court, the multi-billion-naira properties, located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states, are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of illegal activities.
“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,” Justice Nwite ruled.
The judge further directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily newspaper to notify any person or body with an interest in the listed properties to appear before the court within 14 days to show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be made.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to January 27 for a report on compliance with the court’s directives.
Among the assets ordered forfeited are several high-value properties, including luxury duplexes and hotels in Maitama, Asokoro, Jabi, Wuse II, Garki, and Gwarimpa in Abuja; residential and commercial properties in Kano and Kaduna; and extensive land and housing developments in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Notable properties include a luxury duplex in Maitama valued at nearly ₦6 billion, a former hotel facility in Garki purchased for ₦7 billion, a five-storey hotel complex in Jabi valued at over ₦8.4 billion, hotels in Maitama and Jabi, plazas, shopping outlets, warehouses, residential estates, and over 100 hectares of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road.
Other assets include properties acquired through the Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative, comprising multiple housing units and land purchased between 2023 and 2024.
Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son Abubakar Abdulaziz are currently standing trial before Justice Nwite over an alleged ₦8.7 billion money laundering charge instituted by the EFCC.
The court’s interim forfeiture order remains subject to confirmation pending responses from interested parties.