The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja to permanently forfeit 57 properties allegedly connected to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.

In a motion on notice filed by its legal team, led by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), the EFCC told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the respondents had not provided sufficient evidence to justify overturning the interim forfeiture order earlier granted. The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, named Malami, Hajia Bashir Asabe, Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, and several companies linked to the assets as respondents.

The anti-graft agency brought the application under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, seeking a final court order to forfeit the listed properties, which it alleges are proceeds of unlawful activities.

Addressing the court, Okutepa emphasized that the case is a non-conviction-based forfeiture, and that the court has statutory authority to grant the relief. He noted that an interim forfeiture order had already been issued and published in THISDAY newspaper on January 9, 2026, and argued that no sufficient cause had been shown to prevent permanent forfeiture.

In an affidavit, EFCC investigator Daniel Adebayo detailed the agency’s probe, which was initiated following multiple petitions alleging corruption, abuse of office, and fraud against Malami. The investigation included the review of financial records from banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria, inquiries with agencies such as the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Code of Conduct Bureau, and the Abuja Geographical Information System, as well as verification of land registries in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Kano states.

Adebayo also reported that Malami’s declared earnings from 2015 to 2023—including salary, allowances, and estacodes—were not commensurate with the value of the assets under investigation. According to the affidavit, Malami earned ₦89,664,000 in salary during his tenure, with a severance allowance of ₦12,158,400, and declared ₦253,608,500 for official travel expenses.

The EFCC alleged that most of the properties were acquired without proper building permits and through proxies or corporate entities linked to Malami, suggesting a scheme to disguise the origin of funds. The properties are spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states, including assets associated with Rayhaan University in Kebbi.

Justice Abdulmalik has scheduled the hearing for April 21, 2026.

The case originates from a January 8, 2026, Federal High Court ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite, which granted the EFCC an interim forfeiture of the 57 properties following an ex parte application. Valued at approximately ₦213.2 billion, the assets are reportedly linked to Malami and two of his sons and are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. The court had ordered that the interim forfeiture be published in a national newspaper to allow interested parties to show cause within 14 days why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.

Following the interim order, Malami and other respondents challenged the proceedings, requesting that the court set aside the forfeiture order.