Malami property forfeiture: Abuja court orders interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to ex-AGF Abubakar Malami after EFCC ex-parte motion.
Abuja | Thursday, January 8, 2026
Malami property forfeiture proceedings intensified on Dec. 8, 2026, as the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to Mr Abubakar Malami.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order after an ex-parte motion moved by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ekele Iheanacho.
The multi-billion-naira landed properties are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.
Although the order was made on Tuesday, its certified true copy (CTC) was sighted by NAN on Wednesday.
“It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule 1 below which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” the judge said.
Justice Nwite also directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily.
The ruling is “inviting any person(s) or body (ies) who may have interest in the properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said assets and properties, should not be made.”
The judge adjourned the matter until Jan. 27 for a report of compliance.
The assets, according to the ruling, include the following:
Luxury Duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011 Within Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama; File No: AN enhancement 11352, purchased in December 2022 at N500,000,000.00 (value after enhancement N5,950,000,000.00).
Two-winged large storey building at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Cadastral Zone A03, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), purchased December 2018 at N7,000,000,000.00.
Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, comprising a five-storey building (now Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi, with 53 rooms/suites), purchased September 2020 at carcass level for N850,000,000.00 with additional N300,000,000.00 to take possession (completed value N8,400,000,000.00).
Property No. 3130, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, Abuja, comprising terraces, purchased January 2021 at N360,000,000.00.
Property No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Maitama, 15 rooms), purchased February 2018 at N430,000,000.00 (current value N12,950,000,000.00).
Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone, No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent, purchased July 2021 at N325,000,000.00.
Shop No. C82, Citiscape–Shariff Plaza, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased March 2024 at N120,000,000.00.
No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased December 2022 at N300,000,000.00.
Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased July 2019 (no amount stated).
Plaza with commercial toilets, laundry and warehouse tanks adjacent to Birnin Kebbi Market, purchased 2021 at N100,000,000.00.
100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, purchased 2020 at N100,000,000.00.
Four-bedroom bungalow, Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, purchased 2023 at N101,000,000.00.
Shops Nos. A36 and B3, Vegas Mall, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased July 2023 at N158,000,000.00.
No. 26 Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, purchased 2022 at N136,000,000.00.
No. 27 EFAB Estates Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, purchased January 2016 at N120,000,000.00.
Four-bedroom house with two-room boys’ quarters at No. 10B Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased January 2018 at N40,000,000.00.
Plot No. 13, IPENT 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, purchased June 2018 at N85,000,000.00.
Bedroom duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12 Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased October 2018 at N150,000,000.00.
Two warehouse shops B40 and B46, Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased July 2020 at N50,000,000.00.
Twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Cadastral Zone B01, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, purchased between February and May 2017 at N250,000,000.00.
Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi–nine three-bedroom bungalows, three two-bedroom bungalows and 5.4 hectares of land–purchased between February and September 2023 at N187,000,000.00.
Rayhaan University, Kebbi State, comprising permanent site, temporary site, third site and Vice-Chancellor’s house, valued at N56,000,000,000.00; N37,800,000,000.00; N2,450,000,000.00; and N490,000,000.00 respectively.
Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, Kebbi State, including factory buildings, machines and plants, mosque, staff quarters and Bustan building, valued at N4,200,000,000.00; N10,500,000,000.00; N2,450,000,000.00; N1,487,500,000.00; and N3,150,000,000.00 respectively.
Azbir Arena, Kebbi State, comprising hotel, printing press, gallery, gardens, mosque, clothing outlet, pharmacy and supermarket, valued at N10,325,000,000.00; N1,050,000,000.00; N581,000,000.00; N392,000,000.00; N252,000,000.00; N350,000,000.00; and N175,000,000.00 respectively.
Other Kebbi properties include Al-Afiya Energy tanker garage opposite Rayhaan University Health Centre along Sani Abacha Bypass Road.
The EFCC, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026 dated Jan. 5 and filed Jan. 6 by J.S. Okutepa, SAN, sought two reliefs.
In an affidavit deposed to by Daniel Adebayo, an investigator with the EFCC Special Duties Committee, the commission said it received several petitions alleging corruption, abuse of office and fraud against Malami.
Adebayo said the petitions, written by three different groups, were assigned to his team for discreet investigation.
“In carrying out the mandate of the commission, my team carried out several investigation activities which include making inquiries and receiving financial records from commercial banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” he said.
He said responses were also obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
According to him, the investigation extended to the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), land registries in Kebbi, Sokoto and Kano states, Inland Revenue Services and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Adebayo said investigators visited the properties and interviewed individuals connected to the transactions.
He disclosed that Malami, who served as AGF between 2015 and 2023, earned a total of N89,664,000.00 in salaries, averaging N962,663.68 monthly.
“He also received a severance allowance of N12,158,400.00 at the end of his tenure in office,” he said.
He added that Malami also received estacode allowances for official foreign trips.
According to him, Malami declared N253,608,500.00 as estacode receipts between 2015 and 2023 in a June 2023 letter to the CCB.
“Further to sub-paragraph (c) above, Mr Malami SAN in the course of investigation by the EFCC also filled and signed another Asset Declaration form which is attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 4.
“I know that estacode allowances are not paid as income to public officials but to cover expenses which a public officer will incur for official trips outside the country,” he said.
Adebayo stated that Malami neither denied travelling nor denied using the allowances.
“Mr Malami SAN used his position in office as the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to acquire and disguise funds which are not part of his known lawful sources of income.
“That while standing as a guarantor to the loan availed his private enterprise, Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, by Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Malami SAN declared his total assets at N41,000,000.00 and monthly net income at N397,000,” he said.
He said investigations showed the properties were acquired indirectly with funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“That aside the actual acquisition of the properties, most of the buildings in Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states did not obtain requisite permits.
“That Mr Malami SAN indirectly acquired some of the properties either in his name or through third parties or front companies under Rayhaan Group Ltd,” the investigator alleged.
He listed companies under the Rayhaan Group to include Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, Atmal Oil and Gas Ltd and Rayhaan Communication Ltd, among others.
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