EFCC seeks final forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami

Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to order the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

In a motion filed before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, the EFCC argued that the assets are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and should be permanently transferred to the Federal Government.

EFCC argues assets exceed lawful earnings

According to the commission, investigations revealed that the properties, spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna, are disproportionate to Malami’s known sources of income during his time in office between 2015 and 2023.

An EFCC investigator told the court that Malami earned a total of about ₦89.6 million in salary over eight years, alongside allowances and estacodes, which the agency said do not justify the scale of the assets under scrutiny.

The commission also alleged that some of the properties were acquired through third parties and front companies linked to the former minister, as part of efforts to conceal the origin of funds.

Outrage as Ogun budgets ₦34bn on official cars despite deadly roads

Case built on non-conviction asset forfeiture law

The EFCC noted that the application is based on provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, which allows for non-conviction-based asset forfeiture.

It told the court that an earlier interim forfeiture order had already been granted and published in a national newspaper, giving interested parties time to challenge the move.

However, the agency argued that no sufficient evidence has been presented to overturn that order, paving the way for a final forfeiture.

The case has seen multiple judicial developments, including its reassignment between judges before landing before Justice Abdulmalik.

Malami and other respondents have challenged the forfeiture, asking the court to set aside the interim order.

The court has now fixed April 21 for the hearing of the EFCC’s application, which will determine whether the assets are permanently seized by the government.