The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who is currently facing money laundering allegations.
In her ruling on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully established that the properties were connected to suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.
The judge stated that Malami and other respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence showing that the assets were acquired through legitimate sources of income.
Before delivering the ruling, the court dismissed several applications filed by Malami, members of his family and companies associated with the properties.
Justice Abdulmalik explained that the matter before the court was not centred on ownership of the assets but on whether the funds used to acquire them were legally obtained.
She ruled that the respondents were unable to overturn the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired through illicit means.
However, the court rejected the EFCC’s request for the final forfeiture of nine other properties located in Kebbi and Kaduna States, stating that the anti-graft agency failed to provide enough evidence linking those assets to unlawful activities.
The development follows an earlier interim forfeiture order issued in January involving 57 properties allegedly connected to Malami and his two sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru Rahman Malami.
The EFCC had estimated the value of the properties, which include hotels, residential buildings, land, schools and a printing press across Kebbi, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory, at about ₦213.2 billion.
Following the interim order, Malami accused the EFCC of exaggerating the value of his assets, describing the agency’s valuation as inaccurate and misleading.
The former minister, alongside his son and wife, is also facing a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering involving over ₦8.7 billion.
