The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in a landmark ruling that strengthens Nigeria's ongoing anti-corruption and asset recovery efforts.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, granted the application of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after the court held that the respondents failed to disprove the agency's allegation that the properties were acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.
Court Upholds EFCC's Application
According to the court, the individuals and companies contesting the forfeiture failed to provide convincing evidence establishing the lawful acquisition of the assets. Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the EFCC had established sufficient legal grounds for the permanent forfeiture under the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.
The decision means ownership of the affected properties now permanently vests in the Federal Government as part of Nigeria's asset recovery programme.
Some Properties Removed from the Order
Although the court granted the EFCC's request in respect of most of the disputed assets, it also excluded several properties from the final forfeiture after determining that the commission did not sufficiently establish that those specific assets were proceeds of unlawful activities.
This aspect of the judgment highlights the court's case-by-case assessment of each property based on the evidence presented during the proceedings.
Background to the Case
The forfeiture proceedings originated from investigations by the EFCC into properties allegedly linked to the former Attorney General. Earlier in the year, the anti-graft agency secured an interim forfeiture order covering dozens of properties believed to have been acquired through illicit funds.
The assets reportedly include residential estates, commercial buildings, educational facilities, agricultural investments and other high-value real estate spread across Abuja, Kaduna, Kebbi and Kano States. Interested parties were subsequently invited by the court to prove that the properties were legally acquired before a final determination could be made.
Significance of the Judgment
The ruling represents one of the most significant asset forfeiture decisions involving a former senior government official in recent years. Legal analysts say it reinforces the judiciary's commitment to ensuring that assets suspected to be proceeds of corruption are subjected to judicial scrutiny.
Asset forfeiture remains one of the strongest legal tools available to anti-corruption agencies in recovering public wealth believed to have been illegally acquired. The judgment is expected to encourage stronger enforcement of Nigeria's anti-corruption laws while reinforcing public confidence in judicial oversight.
What Happens Next?
Although the Federal High Court has issued a final forfeiture order, affected parties still retain the constitutional right to challenge the judgment before the appellate courts if they believe there are sufficient legal grounds.
For now, however, the affected properties have been permanently forfeited to the Federal Government following the court's determination that they were not shown to have been lawfully acquired.
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