A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at approximately N213.2 billion to the Federal Government, following allegations that the assets are linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru-Rahman Malami.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the ruling on Tuesday after considering an ex parte application brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, represented by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN). The anti-graft agency claims the properties are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities, a charge that has placed one of Nigeria’s most prominent legal figures under intense scrutiny.
The development was made public on Wednesday through a statement released by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, confirming that the seized assets span multiple states including the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna. The portfolio includes hotels, university buildings, plazas, filling stations, warehouses, residential estates, shops, factories, and extensive tracts of land.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite declared, “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 judge directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper within a specified timeframe, allowing any interested persons or entities to come forward within 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the state. The matter has been adjourned to January 27, 2026, for the commission to present a compliance report.
The forfeiture order represents one of the largest asset seizures in recent Nigerian legal history and comes at a time when the country’s anti-corruption agencies have intensified their focus on former public officials. Malami, who served as Nigeria’s chief law officer under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023, wielded considerable influence over the nation’s justice system during his tenure. His office was central to numerous high-profile prosecutions, policy decisions, and legal interpretations that shaped the country’s governance framework during that period.
The assets listed by the EFCC reveal a sprawling property empire concentrated primarily in Nigeria’s elite commercial and residential districts. Among the most valuable holdings is a luxury duplex located at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, within Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja, bearing File No. AN Enhancement 11352. The commission stated that the property was purchased in December 2022 for N500 million but was later enhanced to an estimated value of N5.95 billion.
Also included in the forfeiture schedule is a two-winged large storey building situated at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, which formerly operated as Harmonia Hotels Limited. According to the EFCC, the property was acquired in December 2018 for N7 billion.
Another significant asset is Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, Abuja, comprising a five-storey building currently operating as Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, with 53 rooms and suites. The property was reportedly purchased in September 2020 at carcass level for N850 million, with an additional N300 million paid to secure possession. Its current estimated value stands at N8.4 billion.
Further properties in the Federal Capital Territory include terraces in Asokoro District purchased in January 2021 for N360 million; Meethaq Hotels Limited in Maitama, featuring 15 rooms, purchased in February 2018 for N430 million and now valued at N12.95 billion; and Plot No. 1241B in Asokoro District, located at No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent, acquired in July 2021 for N325 million.
The commission also listed several commercial properties among the seized assets. These include Shop No. C82 at Citiscape–Shariff Plaza, Plot 739, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in March 2024 for N120 million; Shops A36 and B3 at Vegas Mall, Wuse II, acquired in July 2023 for N158 million; and two warehouse shops, B40 and B46, at Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 for N50 million.
Additional residential properties within Abuja include No. 26, Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, purchased in 2022 for N136 million; No. 27, Efab Estates Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, acquired in January 2016 for N120 million; twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Plot 14014, Gudu District, purchased between February and May 2017 for N250 million; and a bedroom duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12 Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, purchased in October 2018 for N150 million.
Beyond the Federal Capital Territory, the EFCC identified properties in Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi states. These include No. 4, Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in December 2022 for N300 million; Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, acquired in July 2019; a four-bedroom bungalow at Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, purchased in 2023 for N101 million; and a four-bedroom bungalow with boys’ quarters at No. 10B, Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 for N40 million.
Also listed is a plaza, commercial toilets, laundry facilities, warehouses, tanks, and 100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, purchased in 2020 for N100 million.
The EFCC further identified properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, sold by the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage. These include 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, among other assets detailed in the schedule.
The interim forfeiture order is the latest development in an expanding legal challenge facing Malami and members of his family. Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, are already standing trial before Justice Nwite over alleged N8.7 billion money laundering. The charges, which have drawn significant public attention, reflect broader efforts by Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture to scrutinise the conduct of former senior government officials.
During separate proceedings on Wednesday, Justice Nwite issued a stern warning to counsel and litigants, cautioning against any attempts to improperly influence the court or undermine the integrity of the judicial process.
“I want to admonish and warn counsels and litigants that they should know the type of court they are appearing before. All judges are not the same. Irrespective of my familiarity with you, when I am dealing with any case, do not approach me. The best you can do for your clients is to get the best lawyers in this country. The law cannot be bent as far as this court is concerned,” Justice Nwite said.
“So, I want to warn each and every litigant and lawyer appearing before this court that they should understand the way this court works. Please, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Any attempt to tarnish my name will be resisted and dealt with. I warned, I warned, and I warned!”
The judge’s remarks underscore the sensitivity and high stakes surrounding the case, particularly given the stature of the defendants and the scale of the alleged financial misconduct. Justice Nwite’s caution also reflects broader concerns within Nigeria’s judiciary about external pressures and attempts at interference in cases involving politically exposed persons.
Earlier on the same day, Justice Nwite granted bail to Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and his wife in the sum of N500 million each in respect of an alleged N9 billion money laundering charge. The bail was granted following their arraignment on 16 counts filed by the EFCC.
The judge ordered that each defendant produce two sureties in like sum. He ruled that the sureties must own landed properties within the Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa districts of Abuja, with valid title documents to be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court. The sureties are also required to depose to affidavits of means.
Justice Nwite further ordered Malami to deposit his passport and all other travel documents with the court and restrained him from travelling outside Nigeria without the express permission of the court. The defendants and their sureties were also directed to submit two recent passport photographs each to the court registry.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the court ordered that Malami be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The court fixed February 17, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The legal troubles facing Malami come against a backdrop of increasing public discourse around accountability and corruption in Nigeria. The country has long grappled with issues of transparency and the misuse of public office, challenges that successive administrations have vowed to tackle with varying degrees of commitment and success. The EFCC, established in 2003, has been at the forefront of these efforts, though its record has been marked by both notable successes and persistent criticisms regarding selective prosecution and political interference.
Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General was marked by significant controversies and policy decisions that often drew public and judicial scrutiny. As the nation’s chief law officer, he played a central role in the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption campaign, overseeing prosecutions and advising the executive on legal matters. However, his time in office was also characterised by accusations of partisanship and the selective application of the law, charges that his defenders consistently dismissed as politically motivated.
The forfeiture proceedings and ongoing criminal trial now place Malami in a position where he must defend his conduct and account for the origins of substantial wealth amassed during and after his period in public service. Under Nigerian law, the burden of proof in asset forfeiture cases often shifts to the accused, who must demonstrate that the assets in question were lawfully acquired. This legal framework, rooted in the principle that public officials should not live beyond their legitimate means, has been a key tool in the fight against corruption.
has been mixed, reflecting Nigeria’s deeply polarised political landscape. Supporters of the current administration have hailed the action as evidence of renewed commitment to anti-corruption enforcement, while critics have called for consistency and transparency in the prosecution of public officials across political divides.
