The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced the recovery and takeover of properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), following a final forfeiture order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The move comes after Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that Malami and other claimants failed to convincingly establish that the assets were acquired through legitimate means, paving the way for the Federal Government to assume ownership of the properties.
Among the affected assets is a residential property in Kano State, which has now been deserted and placed under heavy security surveillance, while one of the hotels covered by the forfeiture order continues to operate despite the court’s judgment.
The assets covered by the forfeiture order are estimated to be worth N180.4 billion and include hotels, residential buildings, shopping malls, corporate entities and a private university spread across Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Birnin Kebbi.
The anti-graft agency had approached the court in January seeking the forfeiture of 57 properties valued at more than N212 billion, alleging that they were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities during Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation between 2015 and 2023.
Although the court granted final forfeiture for most of the properties, it excluded nine assets after ruling that the EFCC failed to provide sufficient evidence linking them to alleged unlawful activities.
Malami and 14 other claimants had opposed the interim forfeiture order, insisting that all the assets were lawfully acquired through legitimate business ventures.
The claimants included members of the former minister’s family, notably his sons, Abdulaziz and Abiru, his wife, Asabe Bashir, as well as several companies and institutions allegedly linked to the assets.
The affected entities include Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Limited, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Limited, Amasdul Oil and Gas Limited, Azbir Arena Nigeria Limited, Meethaq Hotels Limited, Rayhaan University Limited/GTE, Rayhaan Hotels Limited and Zeenoor Hotels Limited.
A visit to Zeenoor Hotels Limited in Kano by journalists showed that the facility was still open for business despite the court’s decision, with guests checking in and out as normal.
Officials at the hotel’s reception, however, declined to comment on the court ruling.
“All I can tell you is that we are still in operation. I cannot tell you anything more than that,” one of the staff members said.
A police officer stationed at the hotel disclosed that security personnel had already been informed that the Federal Government could move in to officially take possession of the facility at any moment.
“I was briefed at the station about the final forfeiture of the hotel to the Federal Government, and I was told that they are coming any moment from now to take over the facility,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, another property located at No. 9 Ahmadu Bello Way in Kano, less than 200 metres from the Kano State Government House, appeared abandoned when journalists visited the location.
The building was under heavy guard, with armed mobile police officers stationed around the premises following the court’s forfeiture order.
Confirming the development, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the commission had already begun the gradual recovery of the forfeited assets in line with the court’s directive.
He warned that any of the affected properties still being occupied or operated without the commission’s approval were doing so illegally.
“Any affected properties not yet secured by the commission are currently being occupied illegally,” Oyewale stated.
He added that the commission had already taken possession of the property located at No. 9 Ahmadu Bello Way and would continue enforcing the court judgment by recovering all other assets covered by the final forfeiture order.
The EFCC maintained that the recovery process would continue until every property listed in the judgment had been secured in accordance with the court’s directive.
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