Court orders final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to ex-AGF Malami

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties connected to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Nigerian Federal Government. The ruling came after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented evidence establishing a reasonable suspicion that the assets were acquired through unlawful activities.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, delivering the judgment, stated that Malami, his family members, and companies linked to the properties did not successfully challenge the EFCC's allegations. The court emphasized that the core issue was not property ownership but the legitimacy of the funds used for their acquisition. "The issue before the court is not who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the property," the judge said.

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

Several applications and motions filed by the respondents were dismissed by Justice Abdulmalik for lacking merit. She concluded that the respondents had failed to "dislodge the reasonable suspicion that the property was acquired by unlawful activities." The forfeiture was granted based on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

The EFCC had initially sought the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties valued at N212.8 billion in January. An interim forfeiture order was granted, and the commission was directed to publish it to allow interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited. Malami, his wife, son, and associated companies challenged this order, arguing that the properties were lawfully acquired and that the EFCC relied on speculation rather than credible evidence.

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not dislodged the reasonable suspicion that the property was acquired by unlawful activities.