Court orders interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to ex-AGF Malami

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to the Federal Government.

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex-parte motion moved by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, to the effect.

Although the order for the interim forfeiture of the multi-billion naira landed properties, located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States, was made on Tuesday, its Certified True Copy (CTC) was sighted by judiciary correspondents on Wednesday.

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Justice Nwite said, “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule 1 below which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities”.

The judge, in the ruling, also directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily, “inviting any person(s) or body (ies) who may have interest in the properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said assets and properties, should not be made.”

Justice Nwite then adjourned the matter till January 27 for the report of compliance.

The properties include, Luxury Duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011 Within Cadastral Zone, A06 Maitama; File No: AN enhancement 11352, which was purchased in December 2022 at N500, 000, 000.00 (value after enhancement at N5, 950, 000, 000)

“Two Winged Large Storey Building Situate at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11,Garki, Cadastral Zone, A03, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), FCT, which was purchased in December 2018 at N7, 000, 000, 000.00.

“Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, Comprising of a five storey Building (Now Luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi with 53 rooms/suites), which was purchased in September 2020 at carcass level at N850, 000, 000. 00 with additional N300, 000, 000 to take possession (value after completion N8, 400, 000, 000).

“Property No. 3130 within Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja, Comprising of Terraces, purchased in January 2021 at N360, 000, 000.00. Property No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Maitama with 15 rooms), which was purchased on in February 2018 at N430, 000, 000.00 (current value after rehabilitation is N12, 950, 000, 000).

“Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent), Asokoro District, which was purchased in July 2021 at N325, 000, 000.00. Shop No. C82 Citiscape — Shariff Plaza, Plot 739 Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse Il, FCT, Abuja, which was purchased in March 2024 at N120, 000, 000.00”.

Others are, No. 4 Ahmafu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, KANO, which was purchased in December 2022 at N300, 000, 000. 00. Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in July 2019 with no specific amount stated.

“A Paza, Commercial toilets, laundering, warehouse tanks adjacent to Birnin Kebbi market, which was purchased in 2021 at N100, 000, 000.00. 100 Hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi, Jega road, which was purchased in 2020 at N100, 000, 000.00. A 4-bedroom bungalow, Gesse phase, Birnin Kebbi, which was purchased in 2023 at N101, 000, 000.00”, among several other properties located in choice places in Abuja, Kaduna and Birnin Kebbi.

Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently facing a 16-count money laundering charge before Justice Nwite.

The anti-graft agency accused Malami and his codefendants in the charge of carrying out various suspicious transactions and attempting to conceal the unlawful origin of billions of naira through bank accounts and property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi.

They allegedly committed the offences between 2015 and 2025, a period that includes the eight years Malami served as the AGF during the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

EFCC alleged that Malami, his son, and Asabe conspired to disguise the origin of funds, acquire property indirectly, and retain sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.