Nigerian police operatives have taken over Azbir Hotel and Azbir Arena, properties linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.
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Police patrol vans were stationed at the Azbir Hotel and Azbir Arena, with officers maintaining a security presence after taking control of the premises.
On Sunday, Imran Muhammad, a loyalist of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), shared a video clip on X showing five police patrol vans and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) positioned in front of the properties, suggesting an ongoing police operation.
The development comes amid an ongoing investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following petitions submitted against Malami over alleged financial improprieties.
Multiple petitions submitted to the EFCC accused Malami of involvement in an alleged $16.9 million legal fees scam linked to the recovery of the Sani Abacha loot, as well as money laundering, abuse of office and accumulation of assets said to be far beyond his legitimate earnings.
Court documents and petitions seen show that the allegations form the basis of an application filed by the EFCC before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seeking an order to remand Malami and one of his associates, Temitope Isaac Adebayo, in EFCC custody for 14 days pending further investigation.
In a motion ex parte and an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC investigator, the anti-graft agency disclosed that it received several petitions against Malami from different organisations, including the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Karlos Community Development and Empowerment Initiative, and Grassroot Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance (GAPAG).
In documents filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the commission said its investigation had reached an advanced stage and had identified “a prima facie case of criminal conspiracy, corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering against the respondents.”
@thenigerialawyerPolice Take Over Malami’s Azbir Hotel, Arena As EFCC Seeks 14-Day Remand Order Over Alleged $16.9m Fraud
According to the court filings, the EFCC explained that the petitions alleged Malami authorised the payment of $16.9 million in legal fees linked to the recovery of funds traced to former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
The petitions allege that the services for which the fees were paid had already been completed by foreign legal counsel previously engaged and fully paid by the Federal Government, making the fresh payments unnecessary and fraudulent.
The EFCC further alleged that Malami used his position as Attorney-General to confer undue advantage on his associate, the second respondent, in transactions now under investigation.
Beyond the alleged $16.9 million payment, the petitions also raised questions about what they described as Malami’s “unexplained wealth” and ownership of high-value assets allegedly disproportionate to his known earnings before and during his time in public office.
Among the properties listed in the petitions are:
- Azbir Hotel and Azbir Arena – An expansive entertainment and hospitality complex in Birnin Kebbi said to be worth several billions of naira
- Rayhan Rice Mill – Located in Kebbi State
- Rayhan Private Academy – Nursery, Primary and Secondary School in Kebbi State
- Rayhan University – Located in Kebbi State
- Multiple residential and commercial properties in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi, some valued in hundreds of millions of naira
Petitioners alleged that prior to his appointment as Attorney-General in 2015, Malami could not have legitimately afforded such assets, insisting that their scale and value far exceed his lawful income as a public servant and legal practitioner.
The EFCC’s application before the FCT High Court is based on the Commission’s statutory powers to investigate and prosecute cases of financial crimes, corruption, and money laundering.
The request for a 14-day remand order is intended to allow investigators sufficient time to complete their inquiry and gather additional evidence before formal charges are filed.
The police takeover of Malami’s properties represents a significant escalation in the investigation and suggests that the EFCC may be preparing to seek asset forfeiture orders or preserve the properties as potential proceeds of crime.
If the court grants the EFCC’s application for a 14-day remand order, Malami and his associate would be held in EFCC custody while investigations continue.
The allegations against a former Attorney-General of the Federation are particularly significant given the high office he held and his role as the nation’s chief law officer during the Buhari administration.
Malami served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
During his tenure, he was involved in various high-profile legal matters affecting the federal government and played a key role in policy decisions related to justice sector reforms.
As of the time of filing this report, it was unclear when the FCT High Court would hear the EFCC’s application for the remand order.
Efforts to reach Malami or his legal representatives for comments on the allegations and the police takeover of his properties were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
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