Court orders interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to ex-Minister Malami

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim seizure of 57 properties believed to be linked to illicit activities associated with Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, the former Minister of Justice, transferring control of the assets to the Federal Government.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order following an ex parte application presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the properties, valued in the multi-billion naira range, are situated across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna States.

Although the court order was made on Tuesday, a certified true copy (CTC) was reportedly obtained by NAN on Wednesday.

“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 stated.

The judge also mandated that the interim forfeiture be published in a national newspaper, giving any individual or organization with a potential interest in the properties 14 days from the date of publication to present reasons why a final forfeiture order should not be issued in favor of the Federal Government.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to Jan. 37 for a compliance report.

Among the assets listed are: Luxury Duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama; File No: AN enhancement 11352, purchased in December 2022 for N500,000,000.00, with a post-enhancement valuation of N5,950,000,000.

Two-winged multi-storey building at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Cadastral Zone A03, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), bought in December 2018 for N7,000,000,000.

Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, housing a five-storey building (now Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi, with 53 rooms/suites), acquired in September 2020 at carcass level for N850,000,000, with an additional N300,000,000 for possession; completed value N8,400,000,000.

Property No. 3130, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja, consisting of terraces, purchased in January 2021 for N360,000,000.

No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (MEETHAQ HOTELS LTD, Maitama, 15 rooms), acquired in February 2018 for N430,000,000, now valued at N12,950,000,000 after rehabilitation.

Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro), purchased in July 2021 for N325,000,000.

Shop No. C82 Citiscape Shariff Plaza, Plot 739, Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, FCT, Abuja, acquired in March 2024 for N120,000,000.

No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in December 2022 for N300,000,000.

Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in July 2019 (amount unspecified).

Commercial plaza, toilets, laundry, warehouse tanks adjacent to Birnin Kebbi Market, acquired in 2021 for N100,000,000.

100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, purchased in 2020 for N100,000,000.

4-bedroom bungalow, Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, bought in 2023 for N101,000,000.

Shops Nos. A36, B3 Vegas Mall, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in July 2023 for N158,000,000.

No. 26 Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, acquired in 2022 for N136,000,000.

No. 27, EFAB Estates Avenue, 59™ Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, purchased in January 2016 for N120,000,000.

4-bedroom house with 2 boys’ quarters at No. 10B Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 for N40,000,000.

Plot No. 13, Ipent 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, acquired in June 2018 for N85,000,000.

A bedroom duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12 Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in October 2018 for N150,000,000.

Two warehouse shops B40 and B46, Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 for N50,000,000.

Twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Cadastral Zone B01, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, bought between February and May 2017 for N250,000,000.

Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, including nine 3-bedroom bungalows, three 2-bedroom bungalows, and 5.4 hectares of land, purchased between February and September 2023 for N187,000,000, among others.

NAN further reports that Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son Abubakar Abdulaziz are facing an alleged N8.7 billion money laundering case before Justice Nwite.

In the charge numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, the EFCC named the former minister, his wife, and his son, alongside an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively.

The anti-graft agency claims that between 2015 and 2025, which encompasses Malami’s eight-year tenure as Attorney General under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, the defendants carried out suspicious transactions and attempted to obscure the source of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi.

The EFCC alleges that Malami, his son, and Asabe conspired to conceal the origin of the funds, indirectly acquire assets, and maintain control over money they allegedly knew was derived from illegal activities, violating the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.

In the first count, the EFCC claims that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide over one billion naira in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were illegally obtained.