A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Justice Emeka Nwite made the order on Tuesday while ruling on an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and argued by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
An enrolled copy of the order, sighted on Wednesday, showed that the affected properties are located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states. The court held that the assets are reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means and should, pending further proceedings, be forfeited to the Federal Government.
“It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made, forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule One below, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” Justice Nwite ruled.
The judge further directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national daily newspaper to invite any individual or organisation with an interest in the properties to show cause, within 14 days of publication, why a final order of forfeiture should not be granted.
The matter was adjourned to January 27 for the EFCC to report to the court on compliance with the order for publication.
Court documents filed by the anti-graft agency listed several high-value assets, including luxury duplexes, hotels, plazas, shopping units, warehouses and large parcels of land. Among them are a luxury duplex in Maitama, Abuja, reportedly purchased for N500 million and later enhanced to a value of about N5.95 billion; a former hotel property in Garki, Abuja, acquired for N7 billion; a five-storey hotel building in Jabi valued after completion at about N8.4 billion; and a hotel in Maitama whose current value was put at approximately N12.95 billion.
Other listed assets include residential and commercial properties in Asokoro, Wuse II, Gwarimpa and Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja; properties in Nasarawa GRA and other locations in Kano; assets in Birnin Kebbi, including land, shops and residential buildings; as well as a property in Abakpa GRA, Kaduna. The schedule also includes multiple housing units and hectares of land acquired through organisations allegedly linked to the former minister.
The EFCC is seeking a final forfeiture of the assets after the expiration of the notice period, subject to the outcome of any objections raised by interested parties.
