A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at N21...
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at N213.23 billion, suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru-Rahman Malami.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
The properties, comprising multi-billion-naira landed assets, are located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.
In granting the application, Justice Nwite ruled:
“It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule One below, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The court further directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily, inviting any interested person or body to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.
The matter was adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance.
Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently standing trial before Justice Nwite over an alleged N8.7 billion money laundering charge.
The forfeited properties include university buildings, agro-allied factory buildings, hotels, pharmacies, supermarkets, primary and secondary schools, oil and gas filling stations, shops, warehouses, and other commercial and residential structures.
Some of the properties listed in the schedule include:
A luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, Abuja (File No. AN Enhancement 11352), purchased in December 2022 for N500 million and valued at N5.95 billion after enhancement.
A two-winged storey building at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), purchased in December 2018 for N7 billion.
Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, Abuja, comprising a five-storey building now operating as Meethaq Hotels Ltd with 53 rooms, purchased at carcass level in September 2020 for N850 million, with an additional N300 million paid to take possession. The property is valued at N8.4 billion upon completion.
Property No. 3130, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja, comprising terrace buildings, purchased in January 2021 for N360 million.
Property at No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja, operating as Meethaq Hotels Ltd with 15 rooms, purchased in February 2018 for N430 million and currently valued at N12.95 billion after rehabilitation.
Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent), purchased in July 2021 for N325 million.
Shop No. C82, Citiscape–Shariff Plaza, Plot 739, Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in March 2024 for N120 million.
A property at No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in December 2022 for N300 million.
Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in July 2019.
A 100-hectare parcel of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, purchased in 2020 for N100 million.
A four-bedroom bungalow at Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, purchased in 2023 for N101 million.
Shops A36 and B3 at Vegas Mall, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in July 2023 for N158 million.
Property at No. 26 Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 for N136 million.
Property at No. 27 EFAB Estate Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, purchased in January 2016 for N120 million.
A four-bedroom house with two-room boys’ quarters at No. 10B Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 for N40 million.
Plot No. 13, Ipent 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, purchased in June 2018 for N85 million.
A bedroom duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12 Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in October 2018 for N150 million.
Two warehouse shops (B40 and B46) at Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 for N50 million.
Twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Cadastral Zone B01, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, acquired between February and May 2017 for N250 million.
Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, sold by the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage Bank.
Other assets include nine units of three-bedroom bungalows, three units of two-bedroom bungalows, and 5.4 hectares of land purchased between February and September 2023 for N187 million, among several other properties listed in the forfeiture schedule.
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