Former Attorney General Malami Challenges EFCC Property Forfeiture Order
Former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has formally contested the interim forfeiture order obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against several of his properties. In a significant legal development at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Malami asserted that all assets under scrutiny were acquired through legitimate and lawful means and had been properly declared with the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Legal Arguments Against EFCC's Actions
Malami's legal team, led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, presented a motion alleging that the EFCC secured the interim forfeiture order through suppression of material facts and misrepresentation. The former minister's counsel argued that the commission failed to present complete information about the legitimate income streams that funded the property acquisitions.
The legal team emphasized that Malami's properties were backed by verifiable financial documentation and that the EFCC's actions constituted what they described as an assault on his fundamental right to property, his presumption of innocence, and his right to live in peace with his family.
Declared Sources of Income and Assets
Court documents revealed comprehensive financial declarations made by the former attorney general, including:
- ₦374,630,900 from salaries, estacodes, severance allowances, and other official entitlements
- ₦574,073,000 from disposed assets
- ₦10,017,382,684 turnover from various business ventures
- ₦2,522,000,000 in loans extended to businesses
- ₦958,000,000 received as traditional gifts from personal friends
- ₦509,880,000 realized from the launch of his legal publications
Malami's legal representatives maintained that these documented income sources sufficiently demonstrated the legitimate origins of the contested properties.
Properties Under Dispute
The former attorney general is specifically seeking to vacate the interim order against three of the fifty-seven properties listed by the EFCC, including:
- Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased on July 31, 2019
- A Bedroom Duplex and Boys Quarters at No. 12, Yalinga Street, Wuse II, Abuja, acquired in October 2018 for ₦150 million
- ADC Kadi Malami Foundation Building, obtained for ₦56 million
Notably, Malami's counsel argued that one property was held in trust for the estate of his late father, Kadi Malami, adding another layer of complexity to the legal proceedings.
Court Proceedings and Legal Context
Justice Emeka Nwite had initially ordered the temporary forfeiture of fifty-seven properties on January 6, 2026, directing the EFCC to publish the order in a national daily and allowing interested parties fourteen days to show cause why permanent forfeiture should not occur.
The matter, filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, faced procedural delays when it could not proceed as scheduled on January 27 due to the case not being properly listed during the vacation period. The file has since been remitted to the Chief Judge for reassignment to another judicial officer.
This legal challenge occurs against the backdrop of Malami facing separate charges, including a money laundering case brought by the EFCC and detention by the Department of State Services over allegations related to terrorism financing. The former attorney general, who served under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, maintains his innocence across all proceedings while vigorously defending his property acquisitions through established legal channels.
