The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, following an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court held that the assets are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Justice Nwite granted the order after considering the EFCC’s application, which sought the temporary forfeiture of the properties pending the determination of the substantive suit.
In his ruling, the judge ordered that control of the multi-billion-naira assets be temporarily vested in the Federal Government.
“It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule 1 below, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” Justice Nwite said.
The properties listed in the forfeiture order are spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states and include luxury hotels, duplexes, plazas, warehouses, shopping units and residential estates allegedly acquired over several years.
Among the properties is a luxury duplex located on Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, reportedly purchased in December 2022 for N500 million and later valued at about N5.95 billion following significant enhancement. Also listed is a two-winged storey building on Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, formerly operating as Harmonia Hotels Limited, acquired in December 2018 for N7 billion.
Another major asset is a five-storey hotel building in Jabi, Abuja, now operating as Meethaq Hotels Limited, comprising 53 rooms and valued at approximately N8.4 billion after completion.
Other properties include Meethaq Hotels Limited in Maitama with 15 rooms; terrace houses in Asokoro; multiple residential properties in Gwarimpa, Apo Legislative Quarters and Wuse II; warehouses located in Wuse Market; shopping units in Vegas Mall and Shariff Plaza; as well as several properties in Kano, Kaduna and Birnin Kebbi, including plazas, bungalows, land and housing units.
In addition to the interim forfeiture, the court directed the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order in a national daily newspaper. The publication is intended to notify interested third parties and allow anyone with a legitimate claim to the properties to appear before the court and contest the forfeiture.
The interim order remains in force pending further proceedings and the determination of any objections that may be raised by affected parties.
