The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intensified its legal push to seize 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to order their permanent forfeiture to the Federal Government.
In fresh filings before the court, the anti-graft agency argued that the assets are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and insisted that the respondents had failed to provide convincing evidence to overturn an earlier interim forfeiture order.
The application was filed before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by EFCC lawyers led by Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa and Ekele Iheanacho.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, Malami, his son Abdulaziz Abubakar, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe and Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami were listed as the first to fourth respondents.
Several companies and individuals allegedly linked to the former minister were also joined in the suit. They include Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Ltd, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd, Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd, Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd and Meethaq Hotels Ltd.
Others named are Rayhaan University Ltd/GTE, Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, Zeenoor Hotels Ltd, Kawsar Ben of Brahim, Alhaji Muktaka Usman Junju and Real Edge Agro Services Ltd.
The EFCC brought the application under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, which empowers the court to order the forfeiture of assets suspected to be linked to criminal activities even where no criminal conviction has yet been secured.
According to the commission, the court had earlier granted an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government pending the outcome of the proceedings.
The order, EFCC lawyers said, was subsequently published in a national newspaper to give interested persons the opportunity to challenge the forfeiture.
The publication appeared in THISDAY Newspaper on January 9, 2026, inviting anyone with claims to the properties to show cause within the stipulated period why they should not be permanently forfeited.
However, the EFCC told the court that the respondents had not provided sufficient justification for the interim order to be vacated.
“No sufficient cause has been shown why the properties under the interim forfeiture order should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the commission argued in its motion.
The anti-graft agency supported its request with an affidavit deposed to by an investigating officer attached to its Special Duties Committee, Daniel Adebayo.
In the affidavit, the investigator said the EFCC began probing the former minister after receiving several petitions from organisations alleging corruption, abuse of office and fraud.
He explained that the commission carried out extensive investigations, including reviewing financial records obtained from commercial banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria, and interviewing individuals connected with the transactions under scrutiny.
According to Adebayo, investigators also examined Malami’s legitimate earnings during his tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation between 2015 and 2023.
He stated that the former minister earned a total of N89,664,000 in salaries during the eight-year period, averaging about N962,663 per month.
At the end of his tenure, Malami was also paid N12,158,400 as severance allowance.
In addition, the affidavit revealed that he declared N253,608,500 as estacode allowances for official foreign trips during the same period.
The EFCC argued that these earnings were significantly lower than the value of the assets allegedly linked to the former minister.
“Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, served as Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation from 2015 to 2023,” the affidavit stated.
“His lawful income during that period is manifestly disproportionate to the properties he is suspected to have acquired.”
The commission further alleged that some of the assets were acquired through third parties, relatives and companies believed to be acting as fronts.
According to investigators, several of the companies named in the suit are associated with the Rayhaan Group Ltd, a business structure allegedly linked to the former minister.
The EFCC also claimed that some of the buildings constructed in Kano and Kebbi states lacked the necessary development permits from relevant authorities.
It suggested that the absence of proper approvals may have been part of a scheme to conceal the source of funds used in developing the properties.
The properties listed in the case include 57 landed assets located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, as well as temporary and permanent facilities linked to Rayhaan University in Kebbi State.
The case has already passed through several procedural stages within the Federal High Court.
On January 6, Justice Emeka Nwite granted an interim forfeiture order after hearing an ex parte application filed by the EFCC.
The judge also directed the commission to publish the order in a national newspaper so that interested parties could challenge the forfeiture within 14 days.
Following the court’s annual vacation, the matter was reassigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who later withdrew from the case citing personal reasons and the interest of justice.
The case was subsequently reassigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who is now presiding over the proceedings.
Malami and the other respondents have since filed applications challenging the EFCC’s civil suit and asking the court to set aside the interim forfeiture order.
Justice Abdulmalik has fixed April 21 for the hearing of the EFCC’s motion seeking a final order of forfeiture.
The ruling could determine whether the properties will permanently revert to the Federal Government or be returned to the respondents.
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