EFCC secures final forfeiture of university, radio station, 46 other properties linked to Malami

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to the Federal Government, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment delivered on Wednesday, held that the EFCC established that the assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and were not acquired from legitimate sources of income.

Among the forfeited assets are Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, including its permanent, temporary and third campuses, the Vice Chancellor’s residence, and Rayhaan Radio located along the Sani Abacha Bypass in Birnin Kebbi.

Other major properties forfeited include luxury residential buildings in Abuja’s Maitama, Asokoro, Jabi and Gwarimpa districts; Meethaq Hotels in Jabi and Maitama; commercial properties in Kano and Abuja; warehouse facilities; filling stations; and over 200 hectares of land along the Birnin Kebbi-Jega Road.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory, including its factory buildings, machinery, mosque and staff quarters, as well as assets belonging to Azbir Arena in Kebbi State, comprising a hotel, printing press, gallery, gardens, mosque, clothing outlet, pharmacy and supermarket.

Also affected are Zeennoor Hotel with its 131 rooms in Kano, Zeennoor Mosque, the old Zeennoor Hotel building, Al-Afiya Energy tanker garage, Rayhaan Security House, an uncompleted commercial plaza in Birnin Kebbi and several residential and commercial properties in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the respondents, including Malami and 14 family members and associates, failed to discharge the evidential burden required to show that the properties were acquired with legitimately earned income.

The court held that merely claiming ownership of the assets was insufficient, stressing that parties in non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings must provide credible evidence showing the lawful sources of funds used to acquire such properties.

The judge consequently granted the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture of all 48 assets to the Federal Government.

The case followed an interim forfeiture order granted on January 6, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite after an ex parte application filed by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).

Following the interim order, the EFCC published notices in national newspapers inviting interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited. Malami and 14 others subsequently challenged the order, questioned the court’s jurisdiction and urged it to dismiss the EFCC’s application.

After hearing arguments from both parties on May 27, 2026, Justice Abdulmalik reserved judgment before delivering Wednesday’s ruling in favour of the anti-graft agency.