The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a final court order forfeiting 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to the Federal Government.
The order was granted by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who ruled that the assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and were not shown to have been acquired through legitimate sources of income.
According to the EFCC, the forfeited assets include Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, covering its permanent, temporary and third campuses, the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and Rayhaan Radio located along the Sani Abacha Bypass in Birnin Kebbi.
Other properties affected by the ruling include luxury hotels, residential estates, commercial plazas, warehouses, filling stations and extensive parcels of land located in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi States. Among them are Meethaq Hotels in Jabi and Maitama, Harmonia Hotels in Garki, and several other commercial and residential developments.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory in Kebbi State, including its buildings, machinery, staff quarters, mosque and production facilities. Assets under Azbir Arena, such as Azbir Hotel, Printing Press, Gallery, Gardens, Mosque, Azbir Clothing, and Azbir Pharmacy and Supermarket, were equally affected by the judgment.
Additional assets forfeited include the Al-Afiya Energy tanker garage, Rayhaan Security House, an unfinished two-storey plaza in Birnin Kebbi, the Amasdul Oil and Gas filling station structure, as well as Zeennoor Hotel, Zeennoor Mosque and the old Zeennoor Hotel building in Kano State.
The case originated on January 6, 2026, when Justice Emeka Nwite granted an interim forfeiture order following an ex parte application filed by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN). Subsequently, the anti-graft agency published notices in national newspapers inviting interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
Malami and 14 other respondents, mostly family members and associates, challenged the interim order, questioned the court’s jurisdiction and urged the court to reject the EFCC’s application for permanent forfeiture.
After hearing arguments from both parties on May 27, 2026, Justice Abdulmalik reserved judgment before delivering her ruling.
In her judgment, the judge held that the respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence demonstrating the lawful sources of funds used to acquire the properties. She noted that merely claiming ownership of the assets was insufficient in non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings.
The court ruled that the respondents did not discharge the evidential burden required to rebut the EFCC’s case and consequently ordered the final forfeiture of all 48 properties to the Federal Government.
