Court orders final forfeiture of ex-Minister Malami’s 48 properties to FG

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of about 48 properties linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the ruling on Wednesday after granting an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), holding that Malami and other claimants failed to establish that the assets were acquired through legitimate means.

The judge dismissed several objections and motions filed by Malami, his wife, son and companies claiming ownership of the properties, describing the applications as lacking merit.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the central issue before the court was not ownership of the properties but whether the funds used to acquire them were lawfully obtained.

According to the court, the respondents failed to rebut the EFCC’s claim that the assets were reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful activities.

The judge relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in making the forfeiture order.

However, the court set aside the interim forfeiture order on some of the properties. The EFCC had initially sought the permanent forfeiture of 57 assets allegedly linked to the former minister.

The anti-graft agency instituted the civil forfeiture proceedings in January, alleging that the properties, valued at about N212.8 billion, were proceeds of unlawful activities.

An interim forfeiture order was granted on January 16 by Justice Emeka Nwite during the court’s annual vacation, with the EFCC directed to publish the order for interested parties to challenge the application.

Following the publication, Malami, his wife Nana Hadiza Malami, his son Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami and several companies filed objections, insisting the properties were lawfully acquired and that the EFCC failed to establish any link between the assets and criminal activities.

They also argued that the commission relied on speculation rather than credible evidence and did not identify any specific offence connected to the properties.

After the case was reassigned to Justice Abdulmalik, the EFCC maintained that its investigation showed the assets were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and held through individuals and companies acting as fronts for the former attorney general.

The commission argued that under the law it only needed to establish reasonable suspicion, not prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Abdulmalik upheld the commission’s position and ordered the final forfeiture of the affected properties.

The ruling comes as Malami, his wife and son continue to face separate money laundering charges involving an alleged N8.7 billion before the court.

The assets, which include hotels, residential buildings, lands, schools, and a printing press, are spread across Kebbi, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Properties in Kebbi alone are valued at N162.2 billion, while those in Kano are worth N16 billion, and the FCT properties are estimated at N34.7 billion.

In Kebbi, Malami owns several sites linked to Rayhaan University, including the permanent site valued at N56 billion, the temporary site at N37.8 billion, and a third site worth N2.45 billion.

The university’s vice-chancellor house is valued at N490 million, while the Rayhaan Model Academy and Rayhaan Primary and Secondary School are worth N11.2 billion and N8.75 billion respectively.

The former minister also owns the Rayhaan Agro-Allied Factory buildings valued at N4.2 billion, factory machines and plant units at N10.5 billion, a factory mosque at N2.45 billion, and staff quarters at N1.487 billion.

Additional assets include the Rayhaan Bustan Building at N3.15 billion, a printing press at N1.05 billion, Al-Afiya Energy Tanker Garage at N2.45 billion, and Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd structure at N1.05 billion. He also owns Rayhaan Radio, valued at N78.75 million.

Malami’s Azbir Brand properties in Kebbi include Azbir Hotel worth N10.325 billion, a gallery at N581 million, gardens valued at N392 million, a mosque at N252 million, Azbir Clothing at N350 million, and Azbir Pharmacy and Supermarket at N175 million.

His residential holdings include Malami House GRA at N350 million, another house behind Mobil at N490 million, a residence behind a cemetery at N350 million, his son Abdulaziz’s house at N1.659 billion, and his second son Ahbiru’s house at N2.989 billion.

Additional properties include the Malami Support Organization Building at N210 million, Kadi Malami Foundation Building at N56 million, Rayhaan Security House at N245.7 million, and an uncompleted three-storey complex valued at N665 million
In Kano, Malami owns Zeennoor Hotel valued at N11.2 billion, Zeennoor Mosque at N84 million, Zeennoor Old Hotel Building at N280 million, Rayhaan Hotel Kano at N2.24 billion, Rayhaan Gym Kano at N1.225 billion, and his wife’s house on Ahmadu Bello Way at N982.8 million.

In the FCT, his properties include a duplex at Amazon Street, Maitama, worth N5.95 billion, Meethaq Hotel branches in Jabi and Maitama valued at N8.4 billion and N12.95 billion respectively, 42 units of bungalows at Efab Estate worth N385 million, and Harmonia Hotels in Area 11, Garki, valued at N7 billion.

The federal government has filed a 16-count money laundering charge against Malami and his son Abdulaziz, alleging violations of Sections 15, 18, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

The total valuation of all the properties traced to Malami stands at N212,892,750,000.