Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has suffered a major legal setback after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to him to the Federal Government, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The forfeited assets include Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, Rayhaan Radio, luxury hotels, commercial plazas, factories, filling stations, vast parcels of land, residential buildings, and other high-value investments spread across Abuja, Kebbi and Kano States.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the EFCC successfully established that the assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and that neither Malami nor the other claimants could demonstrate that they were acquired through legitimate sources of income.
The court ruled that the respondents failed to discharge the evidential burden required in non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings, stressing that merely claiming ownership of the properties was insufficient without credible proof of the lawful origin of the funds used to acquire them.
Among the major assets forfeited are Rayhaan University, including its permanent and temporary campuses, the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and a third university site in Kebbi State, as well as Rayhaan Radio located along Sani Abacha Bypass Road in Birnin Kebbi.
Also affected by the order are several luxury properties in Abuja, including a duplex in Maitama, the former Harmonia Hotels building in Garki, Meethaq Hotels in Jabi and Maitama, residential developments in Asokoro, Gwarimpa, Karsana and Wuse II, commercial properties in Wuse Market and Vegas Mall, as well as multiple residential buildings in Kano and Kaduna.
The forfeiture further extends to Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, complete with its processing plants, machinery, staff quarters and other facilities, Azbir Arena and its affiliated businesses, including a hotel, printing press, pharmacy, supermarket and event centre, as well as an oil and gas filling station, tanker garage, security house, an uncompleted commercial plaza and several agricultural estates.
Other assets forfeited include Zeennoor Hotel in Kano, comprising 131 rooms, its adjoining mosque and the old hotel complex, alongside properties belonging to Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative, including housing units and over five hectares of land in Kebbi State.
The ruling followed an interim forfeiture order granted on January 6, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite after an ex parte application filed by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
In compliance with the court’s directive, the anti-graft agency published the interim forfeiture order in national newspapers, inviting interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
Malami and 14 other respondents, including members of his family and close associates, subsequently challenged the order, questioned the court’s jurisdiction and urged it to dismiss the EFCC’s application.
However, after hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Abdulmalik held that the respondents failed to provide credible evidence showing that the properties were acquired with funds from lawful sources.
According to the court, non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings require claimants to establish the legitimate origin of the funds used to acquire disputed assets, adding that bare claims of ownership cannot defeat evidence presented by the EFCC.
The judgment marks one of the largest non-conviction-based asset forfeitures secured by the EFCC, with dozens of high-value properties now permanently vested in the Federal Government.
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