Court orders final forfeiture of Malami’s 48 properties to Nigerian government

Court orders final forfeiture of Malami’s 48 properties to Nigerian government

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to the federal government.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the landmark ruling after accepting an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The judge ruled that Malami and other respondents failed to clear the “reasonable suspicion” that the multi-billion-naira assets were acquired through unlawful activities.

Before delivering the final judgment, Justice Abdulmalik swept aside several motions and objections filed by Malami, his family members, and associated companies, dismissing them as “wanting in merit.”

Schools, hotels, and gas stations

The forfeited assets—scattered across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi, and Kaduna states—comprise an extensive portfolio of luxury real estate, commercial ventures, and educational institutions.

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Some of the most prominent properties ordered for final forfeiture include:

• Rayhaan University Buildings: Complete with agro-allied factories, machinery, primary, and secondary schools.
• Luxury Maitama Duplex: Located on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja. Originally purchased for N500 million in December 2022, its post-enhancement value stands at N5.95 billion.
• Meethaq Hotels Ltd (Jabi): A 53-room, five-storey luxury hotel on Plot 683, Jabi District, Abuja. Purchased as a carcass in 2020 for N850 million (plus N300 million to take possession), its completed value is estimated at N8.4 billion.
• Meethaq Hotels (Maitama): A 15-room hotel on Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja. Bought in 2018 for N430 million, now valued at N12.95 billion after rehabilitation.
• Kano & Kebbi Holdings: Including 100 hectares of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road (valued at N100 million), a four-bedroom bungalow in Birnin Kebbi, and choice commercial plots in GRA Nasarawa, Kano.
• Apo Twin Houses: Located at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja, acquired for N250 million.
• Vegas Mall & Citiscape Shops: High-end retail spaces across Abuja’s Wuse II district.

How the EFCC nailed the case

The legal battle began in January 2026 when the EFCC instituted civil proceedings against Malami, targeting 57 properties valued at N212.8 billion.

An interim forfeiture order was first secured on January 16, 2026, from vacation judge Justice Emeka Nwite, who ordered the EFCC to publish the ruling so any interested parties could show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.

Malami, his wife (Nana Hadiza Malami), his son (Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami), and several front companies vigorously opposed the move. They argued that the assets were legally acquired and accused the EFCC of relying on mere speculation.

However, Justice Abdulmalik clarified that the court’s primary focus was clear-cut: “The issue before the court is not who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties.”

Relying on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, the court ruled that the defense failed to justify the source of the funds, leading to the final forfeiture of 48 of the assets. Meanwhile, the interim order on the remaining properties was vacated.

Malami’s spokesperson, Mohammed Bello Doka, has already disclosed that the ruling will be appealed.

Legal experts react

The ruling has sparked strong reactions within Nigeria’s legal and anti-corruption circles. Speaking on the development, prominent human rights lawyer Barrister Abba Hikima described the scale of the forfeiture as deeply troubling, given Malami’s former status as the nation’s chief law officer.

“It is a very unfortunate development, not because the properties were forfeited, but that many properties were found to have been acquired by Nigeria’s former Chief Legal Adviser… It is such an embarrassing development. That office demands probity, accountability, and the highest ethical conduct.”

— Barrister Abba Hikima

Hikima noted that while the “presumption of innocence” is a constitutional right, law enforcement has the power to demand explanations when a public official’s lifestyle wildly outpaces their legitimate earnings.

He also urged the federal government to ensure the assets are repurposed to serve the public:

Where this ranks in Nigeria’s asset forfeiture history

While the Malami case represents the highest number of individual properties forfeited in a single case in recent history, it joins a list of massive anti-corruption seizures executed by Nigerian courts between 2022 and 2026: