EFCC Targets 57 Properties Linked To Ex-AGF Malami As Court Fixes July 6 For Final Judgment

Fresh legal pressure is mounting on former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, as the Federal High Court in Abuja prepares to rule on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to him.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed July 6, 2026, for judgment after lawyers representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Malami and other respondents presented arguments over the disputed assets during proceedings in Abuja on Tuesday.

The anti-graft agency is asking the court to permanently transfer the properties to the Federal Government, insisting that the assets are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities. EFCC counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), told the court that the commission’s application was backed by extensive documentary evidence, including a 47-paragraph affidavit and 46 exhibits contained in three volumes.

Okutepa argued that Malami and other respondents failed to provide convincing explanations showing that the properties were acquired through legitimate means. He urged the court to uphold the commission’s request and order final forfeiture of the assets.

But lawyers representing Malami strongly challenged the application, insisting that the EFCC relied largely on suspicion rather than concrete evidence. Counsel to the former minister, Adedayo Adedeji, asked the court to set aside the interim forfeiture order earlier granted against the properties.

According to the defence, the respondents filed a detailed counter-application supported by a 109-paragraph affidavit personally deposed to by Malami. Adedeji maintained that several of the properties in dispute were acquired before Malami became Attorney-General of the Federation and therefore could not be tied to alleged criminal proceeds.

“The court deals with evidence, not suspicion,” Adedeji argued while opposing the anti-corruption agency’s request for permanent forfeiture.

The forfeiture suit is linked to an ongoing N8.71 billion money laundering case involving Malami, his wife, Asabe Rakiya Bashir, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami. The trio is facing an amended 16-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, concealment and laundering of unlawful funds.

Earlier in January, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1.5 billion after they pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

The defence team also faulted the EFCC’s reliance on extra-judicial statements, arguing that such claims should ordinarily be tested through cross-examination during a full criminal trial before being accepted as credible evidence.

Several lawyers representing companies and other individuals named in the suit equally urged the court to dismiss the forfeiture application, insisting that the EFCC had not sufficiently connected the assets to any proven criminal activity.

After listening to submissions from all parties, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until July 6 for judgment on whether the 57 properties will be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.