EFCC Seeks Final Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Former Minister
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has submitted a motion to the Federal High Court in Abuja, requesting the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Abubakar Malami, SAN, the former Minister of Justice. The EFCC claims these properties are proceeds of unlawful activities and should be transferred to the Federal Government.
The motion, filed by a team of lawyers led by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, and Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, argues that the respondents have not provided sufficient evidence to vacate the previous interim order. The court was informed that the respondents had failed to demonstrate why the properties under the interim forfeiture order should not be finally forfeited.
List of Respondents
The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, names several individuals and entities as respondents. These include:
- Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Hajia Bashir Asabe, Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami (1st to 4th respondents)
- Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Ltd, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd, Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd, Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd, Meethaq Hotels Ltd (5th to 9th respondents)
- Rayhaan University Ltd/GTE, Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, Zeenoor Hotels Ltd, Kawsar Ben of Brahim, Alhaji Muktaka Usman Junju, Real Edge Agro Services Ltd (10th to 15th respondents)
The application was made under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006. The EFCC seeks a final order for the Federal Government to take ownership of the properties described in the schedule, which were found to be reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Legal Grounds for Forfeiture
Okutepa outlined six grounds for granting the application, emphasizing the statutory powers under the 2006 Act. He stated that this is a non-conviction-based asset forfeiture proceeding, where the properties sought to be attached and forfeited are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
He pointed out that the court had issued an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government, which was published in a national daily on 9th January, 2026. According to Okutepa, no sufficient cause has been shown to prevent the final forfeiture of these properties.
Investigation Findings
In the affidavit supporting the motion, Daniel Adebayo, an investigating officer with the Special Duties Committee of the EFCC, detailed the investigation into Malami’s alleged misconduct. He noted that the commission received multiple petitions from various organizations accusing Malami of corruption, abuse of office, and fraud.
Adebayo explained that the team conducted extensive investigations, including inquiries and receiving financial records from commercial banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). They also interacted with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS).
The investigation included visits to the Land Registry of Kebbi State, Sokoto State, and Kano State, as well as the Kebbi State Inland Revenue Service, FCT Inland Revenue Services, and the National Universities Commission (NUC). The team also visited sold landed properties and evaluated the assets.
Income Discrepancies
Adebayo highlighted that Malami’s lawful sources of income during his tenure as minister between 2015 and 2023 did not match the alleged properties he acquired. He mentioned that Malami received a total salary of N89,664,000.00, along with a severance allowance of N12,158,400.00 at the end of his tenure. Additionally, he claimed travel expenses totaling N253,608,500.00 between 2015 and 2023.
Adebayo added that no building permits were obtained for most structures in Kano and Kebbi States, suggesting an attempt to disguise the origin of the funds used to acquire the assets. He also alleged that Malami indirectly acquired some assets through third-party individuals or front companies under his chairmanship via the Rayhaan Group Ltd.
Court Proceedings
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik has set April 21 for the hearing of the EFCC’s motion. A sister court, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, had previously ordered the interim forfeiture of the 57 properties on January 6. The judge directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national daily, allowing interested parties 14 days to show cause against the permanent forfeiture.
The case was reassigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu after the vacation ended, but he recused himself before the matter was transferred to Abdulmalik. Malami and others have since challenged the anti-graft agency’s civil suit, seeking to vacate the order.
