The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed the extensive list of properties linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), following a landmark ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the final forfeiture of dozens of assets after holding that the anti-graft agency had established reasonable grounds to believe they were acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities. The court ruled that Malami, his family members and companies connected to the assets failed to successfully rebut the EFCC’s case.

The decision marks one of the largest asset recovery victories recorded by the EFCC in recent years, with the affected properties spread across Abuja, Kebbi and Kano States.

Luxury Homes, Hotels, University and Factories on the List

Court documents show that the assets include luxury residences in Abuja’s highbrow districts of Maitama, Asokoro and Wuse II, multiple hotels, shopping plazas, commercial buildings, warehouses, educational institutions, agricultural facilities and vast expanses of land.

Among the most valuable assets are:

• A luxury duplex in Maitama valued at about N5.95 billion.
• Meethaq Hotels in Maitama valued at N12.95 billion.
• Meethaq Hotels in Jabi valued at N8.4 billion.
• Rayhaan University permanent campus valued at N56 billion.
• Rayhaan University temporary campus valued at N37.8 billion.
• Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory and industrial facilities worth billions of naira.
• Zeennoor Hotel in Kano valued at N11.2 billion.
• Rayhaan Model Academy valued at N11.2 billion.
• Several luxury homes, shopping plazas, schools, filling stations, warehouses and commercial properties across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi.

The court also considered properties allegedly acquired through companies and foundations associated with Malami, including Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative, Rayhaan University, Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory and Azbir Arena.

Court’s Decision

Justice Abdulmalik held that the central issue before the court was not ownership of the properties, but whether the funds used to acquire them came from legitimate sources.

The judge ruled that the respondents failed to disprove the EFCC’s reasonable suspicion that the assets represented proceeds of unlawful activities and consequently granted the commission’s application for final forfeiture under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

However, reports indicate that the court declined to grant forfeiture over a number of other properties after finding that the EFCC had not sufficiently established that they were proceeds of unlawful activities.

EFCC’s Biggest Asset Recovery Cases

The forfeited assets cover:

• Luxury duplexes and mansions
• Hotels and hospitality businesses
• Commercial plazas
• Warehouses
• Shopping mall units
• Filling stations
• Schools
• University campuses
• Factory buildings
• Industrial plants
• Staff quarters
• Mosques
• Agricultural land
• Residential estates
• Large land holdings in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi States.

The scale of the assets has generated widespread public attention, making the case one of Nigeria’s most significant anti-corruption asset recovery proceedings in recent years.

Malami has consistently denied wrongdoing in related proceedings, while the legal processes connected to the allegations continue.

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