EFCC Moves to Seize 57 Properties Linked to Ex-AGF Malami

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to permanently seize 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Politics Nigeria reports that the request was presented before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik as part of an ongoing legal battle over assets suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The anti-graft agency is seeking a final forfeiture order in favour of the Federal Government.

In a motion filed by its legal team led by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), the EFCC argued that the respondents failed to justify why the earlier interim forfeiture order should be reversed.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, lists Malami, Hajia Bashir Asabe, Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, and several companies believed to be connected to the assets.

The commission told the court that the application was backed by provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006.

It urged the court to grant “a final order of this honourable court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the properties described in the schedule below, which were found by the commission as properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”

Speaking during proceedings, Okutepa explained that the matter involves a non-conviction-based forfeiture. He noted that the court had already granted an interim order and that due process was followed by publishing the notice in a national newspaper.

“This honourable court made an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The order of the honourable court has been published in a national daily, namely THISDAY Newspaper of 9th January, 2026.

“No sufficient cause has been shown why the properties under the interim forfeiture order should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said.

Details from an affidavit deposed to by EFCC investigator, Daniel Adebayo, revealed that the probe began after multiple petitions accused the former minister of corruption, abuse of office and fraud.

According to the investigator, the commission examined financial records from commercial banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria. It also sought information from agencies including the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Code of Conduct Bureau and the Abuja Geographical Information System.

He added that land registries in Kebbi, Sokoto and Kano states were contacted, while physical inspections and valuation of the properties were carried out. Individuals linked to the transactions were also invited for questioning.

The EFCC maintained that Malami’s official earnings during his time in office were far below the value of the assets traced to him.

“I know as a fact and verily believe the findings of the investigation, which are as follows:

“Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN) was the Hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, hereinafter referred to as HAGF, from 2015 to 2023.

“He was paid a total of N89,664,000.00 as salary between 2015 and 2023, whilst in office, with an average payment of N962,663.68 per month.

“He also received a severance allowance of N12,158,400.00 at the end of his tenure in office.

“Mr Malami SAN was also paid estacodes allowances to cover his travel expenses whenever he travelled outside the country on official trips.

“He calculated and declared a total sum of N253,608,500.00 as the amount he received for the official trips between 2015 and 2023 in a letter written to the Chairman of the CCB as an addendum to his Assets Declaration Form in June 2023.

“Attached and collectively marked as Exhibit EFCC 2 & 3 are copies of the asset declaration forms filled out by Mr Malami SAN from 2015 to 2023, together with a letter dated 16th of June, 2023, written by him to the Chairman of the CCB as an addendum to the asset declaration form as found at his house during EFCC’s execution of a search warrant.”

Adebayo further told the court that many of the properties were acquired in ways that raised suspicion, including the use of proxies and companies.

“Aside from the actual acquisition of the properties which are manifestly disproportionate to Mr Malami SAN‘s known and lawful sources of income, no building permits/approvals from appropriate authorities were obtained to erect most of the various structures in Kano and Kebbi states as part of a scheme to disguise the unlawful origin of the funds used to acquire the assets.”

The properties, said to be spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, include assets linked to Rayhaan University in Kebbi. Their total value is estimated at about N213.2 billion.

Justice Abdulmalik has fixed April 21 for hearing of the motion.

The development follows an earlier ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite on January 8, 2026, which granted an interim forfeiture of the assets after an ex parte application by the EFCC. The court had also directed that the order be published to allow interested parties contest it within 14 days.

However, Malami and other respondents have since challenged the process, asking the court to set aside the interim forfeiture order.