A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru-Rahman Malami, to the Federal Government.
A statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Wednesday by the EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order on Tuesday, following an ex-parte application filed by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ekele Iheanacho.
Oyewale said the properties, valued at about N213.2 billion, are located in Abuja as well as Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States and are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
In the ruling, Justice Nwite directed that the properties listed in the schedule 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 was quoted as ruling.
Oyewale said the judge also ordered the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper to enable any interested parties to show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
The case was adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance.
The listed assets include university buildings, hotels, schools, filling stations, warehouses, residential buildings, plazas, shops, factories and large parcels of land across the four states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said, “Luxury Duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011 Within Cadastral Zone, A06 Maitama; File No: AN enhancement 11352, which was purchased in December 2022 at N500, 000, 000.00 (value after enhancement at N5,950,000,000). Two Winged Large Storey Building Situate at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Cadastral Zone, A03, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), FCT, which was purchased Dec. 2018 at N7,000,000,000.
“Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, Comprising of a five storey Building (Now Luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi with 53 rooms/suites), which was purchased in Sept. 2020 at carcass level at N850,000,000 with additional N300,000,000 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.
“Property No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Limited, Maitama With 15 ROOMS), which was purchased in February 2018 at N430,000,000 (current value after rehabilitation is N12,950,000,000).”
Others are, “Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent) Asokoro District, which was purchased in July 2021 at N325,000,000. Shop No. C82 Citiscape — Shariff Plaza, Plot 739 Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse Il, FCT, Abuja, which was purchased in March 2024 at N120,000,000.
“No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, which was purchased in December 2022 at N300,000,000. Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa, GRA, Kano, purchased in July 2019 with no specific amount stated. A Plaza, Commercial Toilets, Laundering, Warehouse Tanks Adjacent. 100 Hectares Of Land Along Birnin Kebbi, Jega Road, which was purchased in 2020 at N100,000,000. Birnin Kebbi, Jega Road, which was purchased in 2020 at N100,000,000.
“Four Bedroom Bungalow Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, which was purchased in 2023 at N101,000, 000. Shops Nos. A36, B3 Vegas Mall, Wuse 2, Abuja, which was purchased in July 2023 at N158,000,000.
No. 26, Babbi Drive, Bua Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 at N136,000,000. No. 27, Efab Estates Avenue, 59™️ Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, purchased in January 2016 at N120,000,000. Four Bedroom/ 2 Rooms Boys Quarters at No. 10B, Doka Crescent Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in Jan. 2018 at N40, 000, 000.00. Plot No. 13, Ipent 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, purchased in June 2018 at N85,000,000.
“A Bedroom Duplex & Boys Quarters At No. 12 Yalinga Street, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in Oct. 2018 at N150,000,000. Two Warehouse Shops B40 and B46, Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 at N50,000,000. Twin Houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Cadastral Zone B01, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, were purchased between February and May 2017 at N250,000,000. Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at the Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, sold by the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage, namely.”
Others are nine units of three-bedroom, bungalow, three units of two-bedroom, bungalow, and 5.4 hectares of land, which were purchased between February 2023 and September 2023 at N187,000,000, among other assets listed in the schedule.
Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are already standing trial before Justice Nwite over alleged N8.7 billion money laundering.