The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an interim forfeiture order covering 57 properties estimated at N213.2 billion, handing them over to the Federal Government following an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The order was issued by Justice Emeka Nwite after consideration of an ex parte application presented by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. The affected properties are currently under investigation and are believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN.
The listed assets are spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States. Although the ruling was delivered on Tuesday, a certified true copy of the order was obtained on Wednesday.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite stated:
“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 also directed that the interim forfeiture order must be published in a national newspaper, calling on any person or organisation with an interest in the affected properties to appear within 14 days of publication and show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be granted.
The case was adjourned to a later date for a compliance report on the publication directive.
Among the properties listed in the court schedule are:
- A luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja, purchased in December 2022 for N500 million and later valued at about N5.95 billion after enhancement.
- A large two-winged storey building at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), bought in December 2018 for N7 billion.
- Plot 683, Jabi District, Abuja, containing a five-storey structure now operating as Meethaq Hotels Ltd with 53 rooms, acquired in September 2020 at carcass level for N850 million, with an additional N300 million paid for possession.
- Property No. 3130, Asokoro District, Abuja, consisting of terrace units, purchased in January 2021 for N360 million.
- A property at No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, now operating as Meethaq Hotels Ltd with 15 rooms, bought in February 2018 for N430 million and later valued at about N12.95 billion after rehabilitation.
- Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District, Abuja, purchased in July 2021 for N325 million.
- Shop No. C82, Citiscape–Shariff Plaza, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, bought in March 2024 for N120 million.
- A residential property at No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in December 2022 for N300 million.
- Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, bought in July 2019.
- A commercial plaza close to Birnin Kebbi Market, purchased in 2021 for N100 million.
- 100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, bought in 2020 for N100 million.
- A four-bedroom bungalow at Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, acquired in 2023 for N101 million.
- Shops A36 and B3 at Vegas Mall, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in July 2023 for N158 million.
- A property at No. 26 Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 for N136 million.
- Property at No. 27 EFAB Estates Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja, bought in January 2016 for N120 million.
- A four-bedroom bungalow with boys’ quarters at No. 10B Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 for N40 million.
- Plot No. 13, IPENT 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, acquired in June 2018 for N85 million.
- A duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12 Yalinga Street, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in October 2018 for N150 million.
- Two warehouse shops at Wuse Market, Abuja, bought in July 2020 for N50 million.
- Twin houses at Apo Legislative Quarters, Gudu District, Abuja, purchased between February and May 2017 for N250 million.
- Properties acquired under Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, including nine units of three-bedroom bungalows, three units of two-bedroom bungalows and 5.4 hectares of land, purchased between February and September 2023 for N187 million.
Additional assets were also included in the schedule attached to the court order.
Mr Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently on trial before Justice Nwite over an alleged N8.7 billion money laundering case filed by the EFCC. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, lists the former minister, his wife, his son and an employee of a company linked to him as defendants.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants engaged in suspicious financial transactions and attempted to conceal the sources of funds through property purchases and bank accounts across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi between 2015 and 2025.
They have all pleaded not guilty, and the matter remains before the court. The interim forfeiture order does not represent a final ruling on ownership or guilt, as all parties retain the right to present their defence.
