Abuja, Nigeria — A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled in favor of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ordering the final forfeiture of assets valued at approximately $154. 6 million (N212. 8 billion) linked to former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami.
The decision marks a significant milestone in the EFCC’s pursuit of financial crime investigations.
The court’s judgment was based on the EFCC’s claim that the properties were acquired using proceeds suspected to be from unlawful activities. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik found that Malami was unable to prove the legitimacy of the funds used for the acquisition of the assets.
The assets subject to the forfeiture order include a luxury duplex in Abuja, a university campus, an agro — allied factory, and several residential and commercial properties spread across northern Nigeria.
The court’s decision followed civil forfeiture proceedings initiated by the EFCC against 57 properties associated with Malami and his companies.
The ruling is a significant step in the EFCC’s long-running investigation into Malami, who served as Nigeria’s chief law officer from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Malami is currently facing 16 counts of alleged money laundering and conspiracy involving billions of naira in a separate criminal case also filed by the EFCC. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
The civil forfeiture process in Nigeria allows courts to confiscate assets suspected to be proceeds of crime without waiting for the conclusion of a criminal trial. This framework reflects the Nigerian government’s reliance on civil forfeiture as a key tool in its anti-corruption strategy.
The judgment is one of the most significant asset recovery decisions involving a former senior public official in recent years and is likely to be closely watched as Malami’s criminal case progresses.
The outcome of this case could have significant implications for Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts and the country’s image on the global stage.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africa.businessinsider
Source: Ayodeji Adegboyega
