EFCC Forfeiture Suit: Court Fixes July 6 for Judgment in Case Against Malami Over 57 Properties
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 6, 2026, for judgment in a forfeiture suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
The anti-graft agency is asking the court to permanently forfeit the properties to the Federal Government, alleging that they are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
A statement by the EFCC said Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the judgment date after counsel to the commission, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), and lawyers representing Malami and other respondents adopted their final written addresses and presented arguments for and against the application.
Arguing the motion, EFCC counsel, Okutepa, told the court that the application filed in February was supported by a 47-paragraph affidavit and 46 documentary exhibits contained in multiple volumes.
He urged the court to grant the reliefs sought, insisting that the respondents had failed to provide sufficient evidence to show that the properties were lawfully acquired.
According to him, the EFCC had established a strong basis for the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government.
However, counsel to Malami and other respondents, Adedayo Adedeji, opposed the application and urged the court to set aside the interim forfeiture order earlier granted.
He argued that the EFCC failed to present concrete evidence linking the properties to criminal proceeds, insisting that the agency relied largely on suspicion rather than proof.
“The court deals with evidence, not suspicion,” Adedeji said, urging the court to dismiss the forfeiture request.
He further contended that several of the disputed properties were acquired before Malami assumed office as Attorney-General of the Federation, and therefore could not be linked to any alleged unlawful activity.
Adedeji also submitted that the matter could not be properly determined without oral testimony, noting that key issues in dispute required cross-examination of evidence.
The defence further filed counter-affidavits and additional processes on behalf of other respondents and corporate entities, urging the court to refuse the final forfeiture request in the interest of justice.
The forfeiture proceedings are tied to an ongoing N8.7 billion money laundering trial involving Malami, his wife, Asabe Rakiya Bashir, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.
In January, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N1.5 billion after they were arraigned on money laundering charges. They all pleaded not guilty.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter for judgment, fixed for July 6, 2026.