Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
IN a landmark judgment delivered on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
The ruling marks a significant victory for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its ongoing war against the proceeds of crime.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, presiding over the case, held that the anti-graft agency had successfully established that the extensive portfolio of assets, which includes a university, a radio station, and choice real estate across Nigeria, was reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful activities.
A Vast Portfolio Forfeited
The scope of the forfeited properties is staggering, painting a picture of a sprawling business empire. Chief among the assets is Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, including its permanent site, temporary site, a third site, the Vice Chancellor’s house, and the Rayhaan Radio located along the Sani Abacha Bypass Road in Birnin Kebbi.
The forfeiture also covers the Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, complete with its factory machines, plant units, mosque, and staff quarters .
Beyond the educational and agricultural ventures, the order encompasses a host of commercial and residential properties in high-value areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and beyond. These include:
· A luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.
· A large three-storey building at No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, formerly known as Harmonia Hotels Limited.
· The luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd. in Jabi, comprising a five-storey building with 53 rooms, and another Meethaq Hotels property in Maitama with 15 rooms .
· Multiple properties in the Asokoro and Wuse II districts of Abuja, including shops at the Citiscape – Shariff Plaza and the Vegas Mall .
The forfeiture extends to assets in Kano, Kaduna, and Kebbi states, including filling stations, warehouses, plazas, and vast tracts of land. Notably, assets linked to the Azbir Arena in Kebbi State—which includes a hotel, printing press, gallery, gardens, and a pharmacy—were also seized, alongside the Zeennoor Hotel in Kano, a massive facility with 131 rooms .
The Legal Battle
The journey to this final forfeiture began on January 6, 2026, when Justice Emeka Nwite granted an interim forfeiture order following an ex parte motion by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. Pursuant to court rules, the EFCC published the interim order in national dailies, inviting interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
In response, Mr. Malami, along with 14 other individuals—primarily his family members and associates—filed applications challenging the court’s jurisdiction and urging the court to set aside the interim order .
However, in her ruling on Wednesday, Justice Abdulmalik firmly rejected their arguments. The court held that the respondents failed to discharge the evidential burden placed upon them. While they claimed ownership of the properties, they could not provide a scintilla of proof demonstrating the legitimate sources of the funds used to acquire them.
According to the court, in non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings, mere bare assertions of ownership are insufficient; respondents must adduce concrete evidence showing funds were derived from lawful sources .
The court ultimately affirmed that the EFCC had more than sufficiently established that the 48 properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity, clearing the path for the final forfeiture of all assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
