Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of 57 Properties Worth N213.2bn Linked to Ex-Attorney-General Malami
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 high-value properties allegedly linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and two of his sons, in what investigators describe as one of the most significant asset recovery cases in recent years.
Global Mirror News gathered that the order was issued on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
The Court ordered that the assets—valued at N213,234,120,000—be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, having been “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The properties are located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna States and comprise a wide range of luxury, commercial, and industrial assets.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite stated:
“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.”
Global Mirror News reports that the judge further directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in a national daily, calling on any individual or corporate body with an interest in the listed properties to appear before the court within 14 days of publication to show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be granted.
The case was adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a report on compliance with the court’s directive.
Among the notable properties listed for interim forfeiture are a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, acquired in December 2022 for N500 million and reportedly valued at N5.95 billion after enhancement; a two-winged large storey building at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited, purchased in December 2018 for N7 billion; and a five-storey hotel complex on Plot 683, Jabi District, now operating as Meethaq Hotels Limited with 53 rooms, valued at N8.4 billion after completion.
Also listed are a terrace property in Asokoro District purchased in January 2021 for N360 million; Meethaq Hotels Limited on Rhine Street, Maitama, bought in February 2018 for N430 million and now valued at N12.95 billion following rehabilitation; a prime property on Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro; multiple commercial shops at Wuse II, Abuja; and residential and commercial properties in Kano, including assets in Nasarawa GRA and Lamido Crescent.
Further assets include 100 hectares of land along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road acquired in 2020, a four-bedroom bungalow in Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, agro-allied factory buildings with machines, oil and gas filling stations, schools, pharmacies, supermarkets, plazas, warehouses, and mall units in Abuja.
Global Mirror News gathered that the interim forfeiture proceedings are connected to an ongoing criminal trial before Justice Nwite, in which Malami, his wife Bashir Asabe, and his son Abubakar Abdulaziz are standing trial over alleged N8.7 billion money laundering offences.
The defendants are yet to enter final pleas on the forfeiture application, and the substantive case remains before the court.
The EFCC maintains that the interim forfeiture is intended to preserve the assets pending the final determination of the case, in line with Nigeria’s asset recovery and anti-money laundering laws.
