A 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 (SAN), to the Federal Government.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the judgment on Wednesday after ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The judge also held that the owners failed to show that they acquired the assets with legitimate income.
The EFCC announced the judgment in a statement posted on its verified Facebook page, stating that the court found sufficient evidence to support its application for final forfeiture.
Justice Abdulmalik said the respondents failed to remove the reasonable suspicion surrounding the assets stressing that the case centered on the source of the funds used to acquire the properties, not who owned them.
“The issue is not ownership of the properties but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties,” the judge said.
She added that the claimants failed to dislodge the suspicion that unlawful activities funded the acquisitions.
While the EFCC originally asked the court to forfeit 57 properties, Justice Abdulmalik granted the application for only 48 properties.
the judge lifted the interim forfeiture order covering the remaining assets. The EFCC filed the civil forfeiture suit in January 2026.
The Commission alleged that the 57 properties were proceeds of unlawful activities. It said the assets are located in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi states.
The EFCC also valued the properties at about ₦212.8 billion.
Justice Emeka Nwite first granted an interim forfeiture order directing the Commission to publish notices inviting interested parties to justify why the court should not permanently forfeit the assets.
Malami, his wife, son, and several companies later challenged the order. They insisted that, they acquired the properties legally and accused the EFCC of relying on speculation instead of credible evidence.
After the court reassigned the case to Justice Abdulmalik, the EFCC argued that the assets came from unlawful activities.
The Commission also claimed that individuals and companies acted as fronts for the acquisitions.
It told the court that civil forfeiture proceedings require only reasonable suspicion, not proof of criminal guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Justice Abdulmalik agreed and granted the Commission’s application for final forfeiture.
Malami, his wife, and son still face separate money laundering charges filed by the EFCC.
They have denied the allegations and maintain that they acquired the disputed properties through legitimate means.
The forfeiture ruling relates only to the civil proceedings. The pending criminal cases will continue separately.
