Court orders final forfeiture of 48 Malami-linked properties worth N212bn

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 out of 57 properties valued at about N212 billion and linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and dismissed objections raised by Malami, members of his family and several companies claiming ownership of the assets.

“The issue before the court is not who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties,” Abdulmalik ruled.

The properties, located across the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, include hotels, luxury homes, residential estates, plazas, warehouses, shopping units, schools, a university, factories and other commercial developments.

Among the assets affected by the order are Meethaq Hotels in Jabi and Maitama, Harmonia Hotels in Garki, a luxury duplex in Maitama, several residential properties in Asokoro, Gwarimpa and Wuse, as well as commercial facilities in Kano and Kebbi.

Also forfeited are the permanent, temporary and third campuses of Rayhaan University in Kebbi, the Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, Azbir Hotel, Rayhaan Model Academy, Rayhaan Primary and Secondary School, Rayhaan Radio and other properties linked to Malami and members of his family.

The order also covers Zeennoor Hotel and Rayhaan Hotel in Kano, warehouses, filling stations, shopping units, large parcels of land and several residential buildings in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna.

The EFCC had earlier obtained an interim forfeiture order over the 57 properties as part of its investigation. With Wednesday’s judgment, 48 of the assets will now be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government, while nine properties were excluded from the final forfeiture order.