Malami Properties Forfeited By EFCC

Court Orders Final Forfeiture of University, Radio Station, and 46 Other Properties Linked to Ex-AGF Abubakar Malami

ABUJA, NIGERIA — In a major victory for Nigeria's anti-graft campaign, the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties—including a private university and a radio station—linked to the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had successfully established that the assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and were not acquired from legitimate sources of income.

The Legal Battle and Judgment

The ruling follows civil asset forfeiture proceedings initiated by the EFCC in January 2026, initially targeting 57 properties valued at billions of naira. On January 16, 2026, Justice Emeka Nwite had granted an interim forfeiture order, which was subsequently published in national dailies to allow interested parties to show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be made.

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While Malami, alongside 14 of his family members and associates, filed objections challenging the court’s jurisdiction and asserting ownership, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed their applications for lacking merit.

"The issue before the court is not who owns the properties, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties."

— Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, Federal High Court, Abuja

The judge noted that under Nigerian non-conviction-based forfeiture laws, the burden of proof lies on the respondents to present concrete evidence of legitimate income sources rather than making bare assertions of ownership. While 48 properties were permanently forfeited to the Federal Government, the court vacated the interim order on nine other assets, citing insufficient proof of illicit origin.

Comprehensive List of Forfeited Assets

The 48 properties ordered to be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government span prime locations across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi, and Kaduna states:

Key Institutional & Commercial Assets

• Rayhaan University, Kebbi State: Includes the Permanent Site, Temporary Site, Third Site, and the Vice Chancellor's official residence.

• Rayhaan Radio: Located along Sani Abacha Bypass Road, Birnin Kebbi.

• Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, Kebbi State: Including the factory buildings, machinery, mosque, staff quarters, and the Rayhaan Bustan Building.

• Azbir Arena, Kebbi State: Comprising the Azbir Hotel, Printing Press, Gallery, Gardens, Mosque, Azbir Clothing, and Azbir Pharmacy and Supermarket.

Luxury Hospitality & Real Estate (Abuja)

• Meethaq Hotels Ltd., Jabi: A five-storey, 53-room luxury hotel located on Plot 683, Jabi District.

• Meethaq Hotels Ltd., Maitama: A 15-room luxury property situated at No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama.

• Maitama Duplex: A luxury duplex located at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011, Maitama District.

• Harmonia Hotels Limited (Former): A two-winged, large three-storey building at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja.

• Asokoro Terraces: Prime real estate situated at Property No. 3130, Asokoro District.

• Yakubu Gowon Crescent Property: Plot No. 1241B, No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro.

• Apo Legislative Quarters Twin Houses: Located at Zone E, Plot 1401, Gudu District.

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Regional Properties & Plazas

• Zeennoor Hotel & Mosque, Kano: A massive 131-room facility and mosque located at Kabuga Satellite Town, off Gwarzo Road, Kano, alongside the old hotel building.

• Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative Assets: Located at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, featuring nine units of three-bedroom bungalows, three units of two-bedroom bungalows, and 5.4 hectares of land.

• Kano GRA Properties: No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way and Plot 157, Lamido Nasarawa GRA, Kano.

• Vegas Mall Shops: Shops Nos. A36 and B3 at Vegas Mall, Wuse II, Abuja.

• Birnin Kebbi Commercial Plaza: Located adjacent to the Birnin Kebbi Market, comprising commercial toilets, laundry facilities, and warehouse tanks.

• Agricultural Land: Two separate parcels of land, each measuring 100 hectares, located along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road.

This final forfeiture represents one of the largest single asset-recovery rulings against a former public official in Nigeria's recent history.