The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the ruling, granted the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stating that Mr Malami and other claimants failed to provide sufficient evidence proving that the assets were acquired through legitimate means.
Before issuing the final order, the judge dismissed several applications, objections and motions filed by Malami, members of his family and some companies claiming ownership of the properties, describing them as lacking merit.
Justice Abdulmalik noted that the central issue before the court was not merely ownership of the assets but the source of funds used for their acquisition.
She held that the respondents failed to overturn the EFCC’s suspicion that the properties may have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.
The judge relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in granting the forfeiture order, while vacating the interim forfeiture order on some of the affected properties.
The EFCC had earlier approached the court seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Malami, with an estimated value of N212.8 billion.
However, the court clarified that the forfeiture order does not amount to a criminal conviction or a declaration of guilt against Malami, his wife, or his son, who are currently facing separate legal proceedings involving allegations of suspicious financial transactions.
The civil forfeiture case was initiated by the EFCC in January as part of efforts to recover assets it alleged were acquired through unlawful proceeds.
Samuel Agada is a writer and media contributor from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos and a former banker with GTBank and FCMB. A prolific writer, songwriter, educator, and Gospel preacher, he is passionate about informing, inspiring, and impacting society through his work.