Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to set aside an interim forfeiture order placed on dozens of properties seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The application, filed before Justice Emeka Nwite, seeks to overturn the court’s January 6 ruling, which ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued by the EFCC at ₦213.23 billion and suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the assets are linked to Malami and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru Rahman Malami, pending the conclusion of investigations into the source of funds used to acquire them.
While Malami’s legal team urged the court to vacate the order, the specific grounds for the application were not disclosed as of the time of filing. The court has also not fixed a date for hearing the application.
EFCC ordered to publish forfeiture notice
Justice Nwite had earlier directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper, giving any interested parties 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The matter has been adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a compliance report.
Luxury hotels, duplexes, land seized
Among the seized assets are some of Abuja’s most valuable properties, including a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, initially bought for ₦500 million but now valued at ₦5.95 billion after enhancements.
Other notable properties include:
Former Harmonia Hotels in Garki, valued at ₦7 billion
Meethaq Hotels in Jabi and Maitama, with combined values exceeding ₦21 billion
Commercial shops in Wuse II
Warehouse facilities
Vast landholdings in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi states
The forfeiture schedule also lists multiple residential properties, plazas, estates, and over 5 hectares of land, acquired between 2016 and 2024.
Malami already on trial
Malami, his wife Bashir Asabe, and his son Abdulaziz are currently standing trial before the same court over alleged ₦8.7 billion money laundering.
On Wednesday, Justice Nwite granted Malami bail in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties required to provide landed properties in Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents and barred from leaving Nigeria without court approval.
The trial on the 16-count money laundering charge is scheduled to begin on February 17.
The interim forfeiture represents one of the largest asset seizures ever linked to a former federal minister, underscoring the EFCC’s renewed push to recover suspected illicit wealth.
