The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly 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, to the Federal Government.
Justice Emeka Nwite made the order on Tuesday, following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, who said the properties—valued at approximately N213.2bn—are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
According to the EFCC, the assets are spread across the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states and include hotels, university buildings, plazas, filling stations, warehouses, residential estates, shops, factories and large parcels of land.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite ordered that all the properties listed in the schedule attached to the motion be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.
“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 ruled.
The court further directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper to enable any interested persons or entities to show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance with the court’s directives.
The EFCC disclosed that the properties include several high-value real estate assets in prime locations within Abuja.
Among them is a luxury duplex located at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, within Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja, File No. AN Enhancement 11352. The property was purchased in December 2022 for N500m and later enhanced to an estimated value of N5.95bn.
Another listed asset is a two-winged large storey building located at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, formerly operating as Harmonia Hotels Limited. The property was acquired in December 2018 for N7bn.
Also included is Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, Abuja, comprising a five-storey building now operating as Meethaq Hotels Limited, Jabi, with 53 rooms and suites.
The property was reportedly purchased in September 2020 at carcass level for N850m, with an additional N300m paid to secure possession. Its current estimated value stands at N8.4bn.
Other Abuja properties include terraces in Asokoro District purchased in January 2021 for N360m; Meethaq Hotels Limited, Maitama, with 15 rooms purchased in February 2018 for N430m and now valued at N12.95bn; and Plot No. 1241B in Asokoro District (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent), acquired in July 2021 for N325m.
Commercial assets listed include Shop No. C82, Citiscape–Shariff Plaza, Plot 739, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in March 2024 for N120m; Shops A36 and B3 at Vegas Mall, Wuse II, acquired in July 2023 for N158m; and two warehouse shops, B40 and B46, at Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 for N50m.
Additional residential properties include No. 26, Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 for N136m; No. 27, Efab Estates Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, acquired in January 2016 for N120m; twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, purchased between February and May 2017 for N250m; and a bedroom duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12 Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, purchased in October 2018 for N150m.
Outside the FCT, the EFCC listed properties in Kano, Kaduna and Kebbi states.
These include No. 4, Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in December 2022 for N300m; Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, acquired in July 2019; a four-bedroom bungalow at Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, purchased in 2023 for N101m; and a four-bedroom bungalow with boys’ quarters at No. 10B, Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 for N40m.
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 N100m.
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 N187m, among other assets detailed in the schedule.
Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami, are already standing trial before Justice Nwite over alleged N8.7bn money laundering.
During proceedings on Wednesday, the judge issued a stern warning to counsel and litigants, cautioning against attempts to improperly influence the court.
“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.
“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!” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Nwite granted bail to Malami, his son Abdulaziz, and his wife in the sum of N500m each in respect of an alleged N9bn money laundering charge.
The judge admitted the defendants to bail following their arraignment on 16 counts filed by the EFCC and ordered that each defendant produce two sureties in like sum.
He ruled that the sureties must own landed properties within 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 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.
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