Hearing in the report of compliance by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in respect of the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation, on Tuesday could not proceed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite had, on January 6, 2026, ordered an interim forfeiture of the 57 properties allegedly belonging to Malami.
The multi-billion-naira landed properties are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States.
The matter was adjourned until January 27 for a report of compliance following the interim forfeiture order. However, it was not among the 24 cases listed on Tuesday’s cause list.
It was observed that there were lawyers in the courtroom who had filed processes to stop the court from going ahead with the proceedings for final forfeiture of the assets.
When Justice Nwite was about to begin sitting, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, who led the EFCC’s team of lawyers, informed the court that their matter was adjourned for today for the hearing of their report of compliance.
“My lord, we have a matter that was adjourned on record to today but not on the cause list. When I confirmed with the registrar, they said it was a vacation matter,” he said.
Okutepa prayed the court to conclude proceedings on the matter, having been fixed for today.
However, Justice Nwite told the lawyer that it is the court tradition that immediately the vacation ends, all cases fixed for the period would be transferred back to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
According to him, the Chief Judge will reassign the matter substantively to any judge of his choice.
“I think you will have to pursue this administratively so that you can bring this (the case) to his (CJ’s) notice to fast-track the process,” he said.
The judge assured that if the Chief Judge reassigned the case back to his court, the commission would be informed immediately.
Justice Nwite had granted the interim forfeiture order on January 6 following an ex parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
The judge, in the ruling, also directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily so that any person(s) or body(ies) who might have an interest in the property could show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government should not be made.
List Of Properties
The properties sought to be permanently forfeited include:
Abuja Properties:
Kebbi State Properties:
Kano Properties:
Kaduna Property:
In the affidavit attached to the motion ex parte and deposed to by Daniel Adebayo, an investigating officer with the Special Duties Committee of EFCC, he said the commission received several petitions against Malami from different persons alleging cases of corruption, abuse of office and fraud.
The investigator said Malami, who was former AGF between 2015 and 2023, was paid a total of N89,664,000 as salary during his eight years in office, with an average payment of N962,663.68 per month.
“He also received a severance allowance of N12,158,400 at the end of his tenure in office,” he said.
The investigator said Malami also received estacode allowances totalling N253,608,500 for official trips between 2015 and 2023.
Adebayo averred that while standing as a guarantor to a loan availed his private enterprise, Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, by Zenith Bank Plc, Malami declared his personal assets before a notary public on September 10, 2020.
“In the declaration, Mr Malami SAN stated that the total value of his assets was N41,000,000, while his net income per month after expenses was N397,000,” the investigator said.
“Mr Malami SAN used his position in office as the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to acquire and disguise funds which are not part of his known lawful sources of income,” Adebayo alleged.
The officer equally listed several companies under the Rayhaan Group Ltd to include Rayhaan Hotels Limited, Atmal Oil and Gas Limited and Rayhaan Communication Limited, among others.
