Post by Ibadan Watch (@Ibadanwatch)

Court Orders Final Forfeiture of 48 Properties Linked to Ex-AGF Malami Worth Over N180bn.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established reasonable grounds to believe the assets were acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed objections from Malami, his family, and companies, stating they failed to prove the assets were from legitimate sources.

The forfeited assets worth about N180.4 billion include hotels, a university, shopping malls, homes, factories, and land across Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, and Kebbi. The court declined to forfeit nine of the 57 assets, citing insufficient evidence linking them to illegal activities.

The EFCC instituted civil forfeiture proceedings in January, seeking the permanent seizure of 57 properties valued at more than N212 billion. The commission alleged that the assets were acquired during Malami's tenure as Attorney General between 2015 and 2023 using proceeds of unlawful activities and held through family members and corporate entities.

In her judgment, Justice Abdulmalik stressed that the central issue before the court was not ownership of the properties but whether the funds used to acquire them were legitimate.

"The question is not who owns the properties, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire them," the judge held.

She ruled that Malami and the other respondents failed to rebut the "reasonable suspicion" required under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, noting that civil forfeiture proceedings do not require a criminal conviction before assets can be permanently forfeited.

The court examined Malami's earnings, revealing that he earned N89.7 million in salary, received N12.2 million in severance, and declared about N253.6 million in total official earnings during his eight-year tenure as minister.

Justice Abdulmalik noted these earnings conflicted with the assets acquired and dismissed claims that some properties were financed through loans due to lack of credible financial records.

Assets forfeited include luxury properties in Abuja, hotels, warehouses, shopping plazas, Rayhaan University sites, agro-factories, hotels, and other commercial developments.

Nine assets, including schools, Malami's properties, and family-owned houses, were excluded from forfeiture due to insufficient proof of unlawful origins.

The ruling transfers 48 properties to the Federal Government but does not amount to a criminal conviction. Malami, his wife, and son face an N8.7 billion money laundering trial, denying all allegations.

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