A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an interim forfeiture order involving 57 properties reportedly connected to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
The ruling temporarily places the assets under the control of the Federal Government pending further legal proceedings and possible final forfeiture decisions.
EFCC Secures Interim Order In Abuja Court
The decision was delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite after an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through senior lawyer Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
According to Gossip News Now, the court held that the listed properties were reasonably suspected to have links to unlawful financial activities, making them eligible for temporary seizure under existing laws.
The judge subsequently approved the interim forfeiture request while directing that public notices be published for interested parties to respond.
Affected individuals or organisations have reportedly been given 14 days to challenge the proposed forfeiture before the court considers making the order permanent.
Properties Spread Across Multiple States
Court filings indicated that the assets are located across several states, including Abuja, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Kano.
The properties reportedly include luxury residential buildings, commercial developments, hotels, warehouses and large land holdings collectively valued in billions of naira.
Among the assets mentioned are high-end duplexes situated in upscale Abuja districts such as Maitama and Asokoro.
Commercial structures in Wuse II, storage facilities in Wuse Market, and hospitality properties operating under the Meethaq Hotels brand were also reportedly listed in the application.
Landed Assets Also Included In Seizure
The forfeiture order additionally covers expansive land parcels in Birnin Kebbi, including a large 100-hectare property located along the Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road.
Other assets reportedly involve residential buildings in Kano’s Nasarawa GRA area and several housing units acquired through government housing schemes.
Court documents further referenced properties allegedly linked to the Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative, including multiple bungalow developments and additional plots of land obtained in recent years.
The assets now remain under temporary government control unless successfully challenged in court.
Money Laundering Case Still Ongoing
The latest ruling is connected to an ongoing alleged money laundering case reportedly involving Abubakar Malami, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son Abubakar Abdulaziz.
The trio are currently facing proceedings connected to allegations involving approximately ₦8.7 billion.
The interim forfeiture does not amount to a final conviction or permanent confiscation but allows authorities to secure the assets while investigations and court proceedings continue.
The matter has reportedly been adjourned for further hearings later in January.
Legal Process Continues
The court also instructed that compliance with the publication order must be confirmed before additional decisions are taken regarding permanent forfeiture.
Interested claimants are expected to appear before the court if they intend to contest ownership claims or challenge the EFCC’s allegations.
Legal observers note that interim forfeiture orders are often used by anti-corruption agencies to preserve assets during ongoing investigations and trials.
Analysis And Commentary
The court’s decision represents another major development in Nigeria’s anti-corruption and financial crime enforcement efforts.
Cases involving high-profile former government officials often attract widespread public attention because they test both the strength and credibility of anti-graft institutions.
At the same time, legal experts frequently stress that interim forfeiture orders should not be mistaken for final proof of wrongdoing, since affected individuals still retain the right to defend themselves in court.
As proceedings continue, the outcome of the case may influence broader discussions surrounding accountability, asset recovery and transparency within Nigeria’s political system.
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