A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which argued that the assets were reasonably suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.
Among the forfeited assets are Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, including its permanent, temporary and third campuses, the Vice Chancellor’s residence, and Rayhaan Radio located along Sani Abacha Bypass Road in Birnin Kebbi.
Other properties affected by the order include several hotels, luxury residential buildings, commercial plazas, filling stations, warehouses, large parcels of land, shopping complexes, and agricultural facilities spread across Abuja, Kebbi and Kano states.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, including its buildings, machinery, staff quarters and mosque, as well as assets belonging to Azbir Arena, such as Azbir Hotel, a printing press, gallery, gardens, mosque, clothing outlet, pharmacy and supermarket.
Additional assets forfeited include Zeennoor Hotel in Kano, a mosque, an old hotel building, Al-Afiya Energy tanker garage, Rayhaan Security House, an uncompleted commercial plaza in Birnin Kebbi, and an Amasdul Oil and Gas filling station.
Justice Abdulmalik held that the EFCC had established that the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and that those challenging the forfeiture failed to provide credible evidence showing they were acquired through legitimate sources of income.
According to the court, the respondents relied mainly on claims of ownership without presenting documentary proof of the lawful origin of the funds used to acquire the assets.
The judge further stated that non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings require individuals claiming ownership of disputed assets to demonstrate that the properties were purchased with legally obtained funds, rather than merely asserting ownership.
The final forfeiture order follows an interim forfeiture granted on January 6, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite after an ex parte application filed by the EFCC through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
Following the interim order, the EFCC published notices in national newspapers inviting interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Malami and 14 other respondents, including family members and associates, subsequently challenged the interim order, questioned the court’s jurisdiction, and asked the court to dismiss the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
After hearing arguments from both sides on May 27, 2026, Justice Abdulmalik reserved judgment before delivering Wednesday’s ruling in favour of the EFCC, ordering the permanent forfeiture of all 48 properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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