The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and two of his sons, Abdulaziz and Abiru-Rahman.
The multi-billion-naira assets, valued at about ₦213.23 billion, are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and are located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states. The properties are to be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order on Wednesday following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
In his ruling, the judge said: “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is 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.”
Justice Nwite further directed that the forfeiture order be published in a national newspaper, inviting any individual or organisation with an interest in the listed assets to show cause, within 14 days of publication, why a final forfeiture order should not be made.
The matter was adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance.
Alleged money laundering
Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz, are currently facing a 16-count charge bordering on alleged ₦8.7 billion money laundering before the same court.
The properties listed for interim forfeiture include universities, agro-allied factories, hotels, pharmacies, supermarkets, filling stations, plazas, schools, residential buildings, warehouses, shops, and vast parcels of land.
Among the notable assets are luxury duplexes and hotels in Maitama, Asokoro, Jabi, Wuse II, and Garki areas of Abuja; commercial and residential properties in Kano metropolis; farmlands and housing estates in Birnin Kebbi; and residential properties in Kaduna.
Some of the high-value properties include a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, purchased in December 2022 for ₦500 million and later enhanced to an estimated value of ₦5.95 billion; a former hotel property on Onitsha Crescent, Garki, acquired in 2018 for ₦7 billion; and a five-storey hotel in Jabi valued at ₦8.4 billion after completion.
Other assets include multiple shopping outlets in Wuse II and Gwarimpa, twin houses at Apo Legislative Quarters, warehouses at Wuse Market, hotels in Maitama and Jabi, estates in Asokoro and Karsana, and more than 100 hectares of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road.
The court documents also listed properties acquired through Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative, including residential units and over five hectares of land in Birnin Kebbi.
All the assets are detailed in the schedule attached to the court order.
