A final Verdict by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the final forfeiture of more than 40 properties linked to the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) were granted application after holding that the respondents failed to rebut the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired through unlawful activities. Before delivering the substantive judgment, the judge dismissed several applications, motions on notice and applications to show cause filed by Malami, his family members, and some companies linked to the properties, describing them as “wanting in merit”.

She held that the issue before the court was not “who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties.” Judge Abdulmalik relied principally on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in granting the final forfeiture order. However, she vacated the interim forfeiture order in respect of some properties.

The EFCC had instituted the civil forfeiture proceedings in January, seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties valued at ₦212.8 billion, which it alleged were proceeds of unlawful activities linked to the former AGF. On 16 January, during the Federal High Court’s annual vacation, vacation judge Emeka Nwite granted an interim forfeiture order over the properties. He also directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper for anyone with an interest in the assets to appear before the court and show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The properties are located in Abuja, Kano, Kebbi and Kaduna states. Some of them are: a luxury duplex at Amazon Street. A two-winged large three storey building situated at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Cadastral Zone A03, Abuja. (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited); a five-storey building (now luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd., Jabi, with 53 rooms/suites); Shop No. C52, Citiscape – Shariff Plaza, Plot 739, Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, FCT, Abuja; No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano; Plot 157, Lamido Nasarawa GRA, Kano; a commercial plaza comprising commercial toilets, laundering facilities, warehouse tanks adjacent to Birnin Kebbi Market; 100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road; and another 100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road. nine units of three bedroom bungalows, three units of two-bedroom bungalows, and 5.4 hectares of land.” The Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory in Kebbi State, including the factory buildings, factory machines and plant units, factory mosque, Rayhaan Mill staff quarters, and the Rayhaan Bustan Building, to list a few.

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