By Obinna Uballa
Fresh legal trouble appears to be mounting for former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intensifies efforts to secure the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to him.
The anti-graft agency has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant a final order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government, insisting that investigations revealed they were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The request was contained in a motion on notice filed before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik by a team of EFCC lawyers led by Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa and Ekele Iheanacho.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, the EFCC argued that the respondents in the case had failed to provide convincing evidence to justify setting aside an earlier interim forfeiture order issued by the court.
Malami, alongside his son Abdulaziz Abubakar, his wife Hajia Bashir Asabe, and Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, were listed as the first to fourth respondents in the matter.
Several companies and individuals believed to be linked to the former minister were also named in the suit. These 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 listed 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 filed the application under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, which empowers courts to order the forfeiture of assets suspected to be linked to criminal activities, even without a criminal conviction.
In its filing, the commission urged the court to convert the earlier interim forfeiture order into a permanent one.
It specifically requested “a final order of this honourable court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in the schedule below, which were found by the commission as properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
The anti-corruption agency argued that the court already exercised its powers by granting an interim forfeiture order earlier in the case, which was subsequently published in a national newspaper as required by law.
According to the EFCC, the notice of the order was published in the THISDAY Newspaper on January 9, 2026, giving interested parties an opportunity to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
However, the commission maintained that none of the respondents had presented sufficient grounds to convince the court to lift the interim order.
“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,” EFCC lawyer Okutepa told the court.
Details contained in an affidavit supporting the motion shed light on the scope of the investigation carried out by the commission.
The affidavit, deposed to by an EFCC investigating officer with the Special Duties Committee, Daniel Adebayo, revealed that the agency began probing Malami following several petitions submitted by organisations alleging corruption, abuse of office and fraud during his time in government.
Adebayo said investigators conducted extensive inquiries, including obtaining financial records from commercial banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria, and interviewing individuals connected to the transactions under scrutiny.
According to the EFCC, its findings suggested that the assets allegedly linked to Malami were grossly disproportionate to his legitimate earnings while serving as Attorney-General of the Federation between 2015 and 2023.
The affidavit detailed Malami’s declared earnings during his time in office.
It stated that he received N89,664,000 in salary over the eight-year period, averaging about N962,663 per month.
In addition, he was paid N12,158,400 as severance allowance at the end of his tenure.
The former minister also declared that he received N253,608,500 as estacodes for official foreign trips during the same period.
These figures, the EFCC argued, did not correspond with the scale of the assets allegedly acquired.
“Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, was the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation from 2015 to 2023,” the affidavit stated.
“His lawful earnings during that period are manifestly disproportionate to the properties he is suspected to have acquired.”
The EFCC also alleged that some of the assets were obtained indirectly through proxies, family members or companies believed to be linked to the former minister.
According to the agency, several of the entities named in the case operate under the umbrella of Rayhaan Group Ltd, a business structure in which Malami is alleged to have interests.
Investigators further claimed that some of the buildings constructed in Kano and Kebbi States lacked the required development permits and approvals from relevant authorities, suggesting that the structures may have been part of an effort to conceal the origin of the funds used in acquiring them.
The properties listed in the suit include 57 multi-billion-naira landed assets spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States, as well as temporary and permanent sites associated with Rayhaan University in Kebbi.
The case has followed a complex judicial path since the EFCC first moved to seize the properties.
On January 6, a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite granted an interim forfeiture order following an ex parte application filed by the anti-graft agency.
The court also directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper, inviting interested parties to challenge the forfeiture within 14 days.
Following the court’s annual vacation, the matter was reassigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who later stepped aside from the case, citing personal reasons and the interest of justice.
The suit was subsequently reassigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who is now handling the proceedings.
Meanwhile, Malami and the other respondents have challenged the EFCC’s action, asking the court to set aside the interim forfeiture order.
Justice Abdulmalik has fixed April 21 for the hearing of the EFCC’s application seeking the final forfeiture of the assets.
