Breaking: Ex-Justice Minister Malami Loses University, 47 Other Properties In Final Forfeiture Order

In a landmark ruling, a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties, including a university, linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami on Wednesday

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully proved the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The judge noted that Malami had failed to establish that the assets were acquired through lawful sources.

Prior to the forfeiture order, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed various applications, motions on notice, and applications to show cause filed by Malami, his family members, and linked companies, describing them as “wanting in merit.”

She held that the issue before the court was not “who owns the properties, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties.”

According to the judge, the respondents had “not dislodged the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired by unlawful activities.”

Justice Abdulmalik relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in granting the final forfeiture order.

The judge, however, vacated the interim forfeiture order in respect of nine other properties sought to be forfeited by the EFCC.

She held that the anti-graft agency was unable to prove that the nine properties located in Kebbi and Kaduna State were gotten through unlawful activities.

Justice Abdulmalik had fixed today for judgement in the forfeiture suit filed by the EFCC against 57 properties linked to Malami.

The anti-graft agency had, in the suit, sought the final forfeiture of the properties for reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Emeka Nwite had, on January 16, made an order for interim forfeiture of the 57 properties after Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, moved the motion ex-parte.

The EFCC instituted the suit, seeking the permanent forfeiture of the 57 properties worth N212.8 billion.

Following the publication of the interim order, Malami, his wife Nana Hadiza, his son, Abdulaziz, and several companies linked to the properties filed objections.

They urged the court to dismiss the EFCC’s application and set aside the interim forfeiture order, arguing that it was wrongly granted.

They also argued that the properties were lawfully acquired and that the EFCC failed to establish any connection between the assets and any unlawful activity.