Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN, has filed an application at the Federal High Court in Abuja to vacate an interim forfeiture order on 57 high-value properties worth approximately N213.23 billion, seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the interim order on January 6, 2026, after the EFCC alleged the assets are proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Malami and his sons, Abdulaziz and Abiru Rahman Malami. The order remains in effect pending the conclusion of the EFCC’s investigation into the funds used for the acquisitions.
The portfolio—described by the EFCC as one of the largest ever linked to a former minister—includes luxury real estate, commercial plazas, hotels, and expansive landholdings in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi states.
Notable properties include high-end residences in Abuja’s Maitama and Asokoro districts, a hotel in Kano, and large plots in Kebbi.
Malami’s application seeks to discharge the interim order, though the specific grounds have not been publicly disclosed. No hearing date has been scheduled.This case runs alongside an ongoing N8.7 billion money laundering trial before the same court, involving Malami, his wife Bashir Asabe, and son Abdulaziz.
Justice Nwite recently granted Malami N500 million bail with conditions, including sureties owning property in Abuja’s upscale districts and the surrender of travel documents.
The trial is slated to begin on February 17, 2026.Following the forfeiture order, the court directed the EFCC to publish a notice in a national newspaper, giving interested parties 14 days to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
The matter was adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a compliance report—though that date has passed without reported resolution.The EFCC’s moves highlight its push to recover alleged illicit wealth from high-profile former officials, setting up a likely prolonged legal battle over the assets.
