Malami property forfeiture took center stage in Abuja after the Federal High Court ordered the interim seizure of 57 properties allegedly tied to former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and two of his sons. The ruling was delivered Tuesday by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex parte request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court directed that the assets, valued by investigators at about N213.2 billion, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government. The EFCC told the court the properties are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and span Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna.
The order covers a wide range of high-value holdings, including luxury homes, hotels, plazas, filling stations, warehouses, factories, shops, and large land parcels. Justice Nwite approved the forfeiture of all properties listed in the schedule attached to the EFCC’s motion and instructed the commission to publish the order in a national newspaper. Interested parties have 14 days to show cause why the assets should not be permanently seized. The matter was adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a compliance report.
Investigators highlighted prime Abuja assets among the seized properties. They include a Maitama duplex bought for N500 million in 2022 and later upgraded to an estimated N5.95 billion. Another is a former hotel facility in Garki acquired for N7 billion, alongside a five-storey hotel in Jabi now valued at N8.4 billion. Additional assets include hotels in Maitama, terraces in Asokoro, multiple shops in Wuse II malls and markets, warehouses, and upscale residential homes across the capital.
Outside Abuja, the listed properties stretch across Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi states. They include houses in GRA neighborhoods, bungalows, commercial facilities, warehouses, and about 100 hectares of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road. The EFCC also named multiple housing units and land allegedly acquired through a development initiative in Birnin Kebbi.
The forfeiture order comes amid an ongoing criminal case. Malami, his wife, and a son are facing trial over alleged money laundering totaling nearly N9 billion. During proceedings, Justice Nwite warned lawyers and litigants against attempting to influence the court, stressing that judicial integrity would be defended.
Earlier the same day, the court granted the defendants bail set at N500 million each, with strict conditions, including property-owning sureties in Abuja districts and travel restrictions. Trial is scheduled to begin on February 17, 2026.
