The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to the Federal Government, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the judgment yesterday, holding that the anti-graft agency had successfully established that the assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and were not acquired through legitimate sources of income.
Among the assets forfeited are Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, including its permanent and temporary campuses, a third site, the Vice Chancellor’s residence and Rayhaan Radio.
Also forfeited are Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, Azbir Arena and Hotel, Zeennoor Hotel in Kano, Meethaq Hotels in Abuja, several commercial buildings, luxury residences, filling stations, warehouses, plazas and large expanses of land in Abuja, Kebbi and Kano states.
The court held that the respondents failed to provide credible evidence showing that the properties were acquired with lawful earnings.
According to the judgment, ownership claims alone were insufficient in non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings, as the law requires respondents to establish the legitimate sources of funds used to acquire the assets.
The judge ruled that the respondents merely asserted ownership without proving that the properties were purchased with legally earned income.
The EFCC had secured an interim forfeiture order on January 6, 2026, from Justice Emeka Nwite after an ex parte application filed by the Commission’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
Following the interim order, the Commission published notices in national newspapers inviting interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Malami and 14 other respondents, mainly members of his family and associates, subsequently challenged the interim forfeiture order, questioning the court’s jurisdiction and urging it to reject the application for final forfeiture.
After hearing arguments from both sides on May 27, 2026, Justice Abdulmalik reserved judgment.
In Wednesday’s ruling, the court found that the EFCC had discharged the burden of establishing reasonable suspicion that the 48 properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
The judge further held that the respondents failed to rebut the Commission’s case with evidence demonstrating legitimate sources of the funds used to acquire the assets.
The forfeited assets include a luxury duplex in Maitama, Abuja; a multi-storey building in Garki formerly occupied by Harmonia Hotels; Meethaq Hotels in Jabi and Maitama; residential properties in Asokoro, Gwarimpa and Wuse II; commercial properties in Kano and Kebbi; warehouse facilities, shopping units and hundreds of hectares of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road.
Also affected are assets belonging to Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, Azbir Arena, Al-Afiya Energy tanker garage, Amasdul Oil and Gas filling station, Zeennoor Hotel and properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative in Birnin Kebbi.
The judgment marks one of the largest non-conviction-based asset forfeitures secured by the EFCC in recent years.
