Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of 48 Properties Linked To Ex-AGF Malami Worth N212bn

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties valued at about N212 billion and linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment delivered on Wednesday, granted an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the permanent forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government.

The court dismissed objections filed by Malami, members of his family and several companies claiming ownership of the properties.

Delivering the ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the determining factor before the court was not the ownership of the properties but whether the funds used to acquire them were lawfully obtained.

“The issue before the court is not who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties,” the judge ruled.

The forfeited assets are spread across the Federal Capital Territory as well as Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states. They include hotels, luxury residences, housing estates, shopping plazas, warehouses, schools, a university, factories and other commercial developments.

Among the properties affected are Meethaq Hotels in Jabi and Maitama, Harmonia Hotels in Garki, a luxury duplex in Maitama, and several residential buildings located in Asokoro, Gwarimpa and Wuse. The order also covers commercial facilities in Kano and Kebbi states.

Also forfeited are the permanent, temporary and third campuses of Rayhaan University in Kebbi, the Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, Azbir Hotel, Rayhaan Model Academy, Rayhaan Primary and Secondary School, Rayhaan Radio, and other assets linked to Malami and members of his family.

Other assets covered by the order include Zeennoor Hotel and Rayhaan Hotel in Kano, warehouses, filling stations, shopping units, extensive parcels of land, and several residential buildings in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna.

The EFCC had earlier secured an interim forfeiture order over the 57 properties as part of an ongoing investigation. Following Wednesday’s judgment, 48 of the properties have now been permanently forfeited to the Federal Government, while nine others were excluded from the final forfeiture order.