The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Minister of Justice, to the Federal Government.
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Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex parte motion moved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, to that effect.
The multi-billion naira landed properties are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.
Although the order was made on Tuesday, its certified true copy (CTC) was sighted on Wednesday.
“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 said.
Justice Nwite, in the ruling, also directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily, inviting any person or body who may have interest in the properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said assets and properties should not be made.
The judge then adjourned the matter until Jan. 31 for a report of compliance.
The assets include:
Luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, within Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama; File No: AN Enhancement 11352, purchased in December 2022 at N500,000,000.00 (value after enhancement at N5,950,000,000).
Two-winged large storey building situated at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Cadastral Zone A03, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), FCT, purchased in December 2018 at N7,000,000,000.00.
Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, comprising a five-storey building (now Luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi, with 53 rooms and suites), purchased in September 2020 at carcass level at N850,000,000.00, with an additional N300,000,000.00 to take possession (value after completion N8,400,000,000).
Property No. 3130 within Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja, comprising terraces, purchased in January 2021 at N360,000,000.00.
Property No. 3, Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Maitama, with 15 rooms), purchased in February 2018 at N430,000,000.00 (current value after rehabilitation is N12,950,000,000).
Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent), Asokoro District, purchased in July 2021 at N325,000,000.00.
Shop No. C82, Citiscape, Shariff Plaza, Plot 739, Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, FCT, Abuja, purchased in March 2024 at N120,000,000.00.
No. 4, Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in December 2022 at N300,000,000.00.
Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in July 2019, with no specific amount stated.
A plaza, commercial toilets, laundry, warehouse tanks adjacent to Birnin Kebbi Market, purchased in 2021 at N100,000,000.00.
100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, purchased in 2020 at N100,000,000.00.
Four-bedroom bungalow, Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, purchased in 2023 at N101,000,000.00.
Shops Nos. A36 and B3, Vegas Mall, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in July 2023 at N158,000,000.00.
No. 26, Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 at N136,000,000.00.
No. 27, EFAB Estates Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, purchased in January 2016 at N120,000,000.00.
Four-bedroom house with two-room boys’ quarters at No. 10B, Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 at N40,000,000.00.
Plot No. 13, IPENT 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, purchased in June 2018 at N85,000,000.00.
A bedroom duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12, Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in October 2018 at N150,000,000.00.
Two warehouse shops, B40 and B46, Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 at N50,000,000.00.
Twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Cadastral Zone B01, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, purchased between February and May 2017 at N250,000,000.00.
Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, sold by the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage, namely nine units of three-bedroom bungalows, three units of two-bedroom bungalows, and 5.4 hectares of land, purchased between February 2023 and September 2023 at N187,000,000.00, among other assets listed in the schedule.
Recall that Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently facing an alleged N8.7 billion money laundering charge before Justice Nwite.
The EFCC, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, named the ex-minister, his wife, and his son, as well as an employee of a firm linked to the former minister, Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd, as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
The anti-graft agency, in the 16 counts, accused the defendants of carrying out various suspicious transactions and attempting to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi.
They allegedly committed the offences between 2015 and 2025, a period that includes the eight years Malami served as Attorney-General of the Federation during the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The commission alleged that Malami, his son and Asabe conspired to disguise the origin of funds, acquire property indirectly and retain sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011, as amended, and 2022.
In count one, the EFCC alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over one billion naira in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
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