Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to set aside an interim forfeiture order placed on three properties among 57 assets listed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for forfeiture to the Federal Government.
Malami is specifically challenging properties listed as Nos. 9, 18 and 48 in an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC on January 6, 2026, which led to the temporary forfeiture order granted by Justice Emeka Nwite, sitting as the court’s vacation judge.
The disputed properties include:
Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, acquired in July 2019 (Property No. 9);
A bedroom duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12, Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in October 2018 for ₦150 million (Property No. 18); and
The ADC Kadi Malami Foundation Building, purchased for ₦56 million and listed as Property No. 48.
Justice Nwite had ordered the interim forfeiture after granting the EFCC’s ex-parte motion moved by its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, directing the commission to publish the order in a national newspaper to allow interested parties 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited. The affected assets are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.
However, in a motion on notice dated January 26 and filed January 27, 2026, Malami—through his legal team led by Joseph Daudu, SAN—argued that the EFCC obtained the interim order through suppression of material facts and misrepresentation.
Daudu told the court that the properties in question were lawfully acquired, properly declared in Malami’s asset declaration forms submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) during his tenure in 2019 and 2023, and are not linked to any unlawful activity or specific criminal offence.
He added that Property No. 48 is held in trust for the estate of Malami’s late father, Kadi Malami Nassarawa.
The former AGF is seeking two key reliefs which include, an order vacating the interim forfeiture of the three properties; and an order restraining the EFCC from interfering with his ownership, possession, or control of the properties.
In a 14-ground argument, Daudu submitted that Malami’s asset declarations provide prima facie evidence of legitimate ownership, detailing multiple lawful income streams, including salaries and allowances, proceeds from asset disposals, business turnover, loans to businesses, gifts from friends, and income from the public presentation of Malami’s book.
He contended that the interim forfeiture order was granted without prima facie proof of unlawful conduct and warned that the proceedings amounted to an assault on Malami’s fundamental right to property, presumption of innocence, and right to family life.
Justice Nwite had earlier adjourned the matter to January 27 for compliance with publication requirements, but the case could not proceed as it was not listed, having been heard during the court’s vacation. With the conclusion of vacation sittings, the judge has returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.
Malami Asks Court to Vacate Interim Forfeiture Order on Three Properties
