Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of 57 Properties Worth ₦213bn Linked to Abubakar Malami and Sons
In a landmark anti-corruption move, a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at approximately ₦213.23 billion, allegedly linked to the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his sons.
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex-parte application moved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court held that the assets are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Key Details of the Seizure:
Asset Portfolio: The 57 properties include luxury residential duplexes, hotels, private universities (Rayhaan University), schools, commercial plazas, oil and gas filling stations, and over 100 hectares of land.
Locations: The assets are strategically located across Abuja (FCT), Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna States.
Notable Properties: Meethaq Hotels (Jabi and Maitama branches) valued at over ₦21 billion combined.
Harmonia Hotels (Garki, Abuja) valued at ₦7 billion.
A luxury duplex in Maitama valued at ₦5.95 billion after "enhancements."
Next Steps: Justice Nwite granted Malami and his sons, Abdulaziz and Abiru-Rahman, 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Ongoing Trial: This forfeiture is part of a broader 16-count money laundering charge involving ₦8.7 billion. While the asset forfeiture was ordered on Tuesday, the court granted Malami and his family members bail in the sum of ₦1.5 billion on Wednesday, January 7.
The matter has been adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance with the court's order to publish the forfeiture notice in national newspapers.
