The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant a final order forfeiting 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.
The anti-graft agency argued that the assets spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
In a motion filed before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, EFCC’s legal team, led by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), maintained that the respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn an earlier interim forfeiture order.
The application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, lists Malami alongside Hajia Bashir Asabe and Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, as well as several companies allegedly tied to the properties.
The EFCC said its request is based on a non-conviction forfeiture process under the Advance Fee Fraud Act, which allows courts to seize assets suspected to be linked to illegal activity without a criminal conviction.
According to an affidavit by EFCC investigator Daniel Adebayo, the commission received multiple petitions accusing Malami of corruption, abuse of office and fraud.
Investigations reportedly involved financial records from banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as checks with the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service and Code of Conduct Bureau.
The agency also examined land records in Kebbi, Sokoto and Kano states and physically verified the properties.
The EFCC claimed that Malami’s earnings during his tenure from 2015 to 2023 were far below the value of the assets in question.
According to the affidavit, he earned N89.66 million in salary over eight years, N12.15 million as severance allowance and N253.6 million in estacode allowances.
The commission argued that these figures are “manifestly disproportionate” to the estimated N213.2 billion value of the properties.
It further alleged that some assets were acquired through proxies and companies, and that several buildings lacked proper approvals suggesting an attempt to conceal the origin of funds.
The case follows an earlier ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted an interim forfeiture order on January 8, 2026.
The court had directed the EFCC to publish the order, giving interested parties 14 days to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
However, Malami and other respondents challenged the decision, urging the court to set aside the order.
Justice Abdulmalik has now fixed April 21 for the hearing of the motion seeking final forfeiture.
