In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik explained that the case did not revolve around the ownership of these properties but rather the legitimacy of the funds used for their acquisition. She noted that Malami, alongside his family and related companies, did not adequately refute the allegations made by the EFCC regarding the unlawful acquisition of the properties.
The court dismissed several applications and motions presented by Malami and others as lacking in merit. Citing Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, she granted the EFCC’s request for the final forfeiture of the assets. However, some interim forfeiture orders regarding certain properties were discharged.
The EFCC initiated the civil forfeiture proceedings in January, seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties valued at approximately N212.8 billion, asserting they were proceeds of illegal activities associated with Malami. Initially, an interim forfeiture order was granted, requiring the EFCC to notify the public to allow anyone interested to contest the forfeiture. Malami, along with family members and certain companies, challenged this order, arguing the legality of the property acquisitions and claiming that the EFCC’s evidence was speculative and insufficient.
After resuming from a judicial vacation, the case was reassigned to Justice Abdulmalik for conclusive decision-making. During the hearings, the EFCC asserted that the properties were acquired with unlawful proceeds and held under pseudonymous individuals and companies acting on Malami’s behalf. They maintained that only a reasonable suspicion needed to be established to support their case in the civil forfeiture context. Following the conclusion of final arguments in May, the court scheduled and then postponed judgment before it was finally delivered on Wednesday.
The court-ordered list of confiscated properties includes:
A luxury duplex at Amazon Street within Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama, purchased in December 2022 at N500,000,000.00 (value after enhancement, N5,950,000,000).
A two-wing, large storey building situated at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Cadastral Zone A03, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), FCT, purchased in December 2018 at N7,000,000,000.00.
Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, comprising a five-storey building (now Luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi, with 53 rooms/suites), purchased in September 2020 at carcass level at N850,000,000.00, with an additional N300,000,000 to take possession (value after completion, N8,400,000,000).
Property No. 3130, within Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja, comprising terraces, purchased in January 2021 at N360,000,000.00.
Property No. 3, Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Maitama, with 15 rooms), purchased in February 2018 at N430,000,000.00 (current value after rehabilitation, N12,950,000,000).
Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent), Asokoro District, purchased in July 2021 at N325,000,000.00.
Shop No. C82, Citiscape — Shariff Plaza, Plot 739, Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, FCT, Abuja, purchased in March 2024 at N120,000,000.00.
No. 4, Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in December 2022 at N300,000,000.00.
Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, purchased in July 2019.
A plaza, commercial toilets, laundry facility, and warehouse tanks adjacent to Birnin Kebbi Market, purchased in 2021 at N100,000,000.00.
100 hectares of land along Birnin Kebbi–Jega Road, purchased in 2020 at N100,000,000.00.
A four-bedroom bungalow, Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, purchased in 2023 at N101,000,000.00.
Shops Nos. A36 and B3, Vegas Mall, Wuse 2, Abuja, purchased in July 2023 at N158,000,000.00.
No. 26, Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 at N136,000,000.00.
No. 27, Efab Estates Avenue, 59th Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, purchased in January 2016 at N120,000,000.00.
A four-bedroom house with two-room boys’ quarters at No. 10B, Doka Crescent, Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, purchased in January 2018 at N40,000,000.00.
Plot No. 13, Ipent 7 Estate, Karsana District, Abuja, purchased in June 2018 at N85,000,000.00.
A four-bedroom duplex with boys’ quarters at No. 12, Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in October 2018 at N150,000,000.00.
Two warehouse shops, B40 and B46, Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 at N50,000,000.00.
Twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Cadastral Zone B01, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, purchased between February and May 2017 at N250,000,000.00.
Properties acquired by the Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, sold by the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage.
Nine units of three-bedroom bungalows, three units of two-bedroom bungalows, and 5.4 hectares of land, purchased between February and September 2023 at N187 million.
