The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the 57 properties allegedly linked to former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, SAN should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The anti-graft agency, in a motion on notice for final forfeiture of the property filed by its team of lawyers, led by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), and Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the respondents had failed to place sufficient evidence before the court to warrant it to vacate the earlier interim order.

The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, named the ex-AGF, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Hajia Bashir Asabe, Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami as 1st to 4th respondents.

Others are Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Ltd, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd, Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd, Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd, Meethaq Hotels Ltd as 5th to 9th respondents.

They also include Rayhaan University Ltd/GTE, Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, Zeenoor Hotels Ltd, Kawsar Ben of Brahim, Alhaji Muktaka Usman Junju, and Real Edge Agro Services Ltd as the 10th to 15th respondents, respectively.

The application was brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.

EFCC sought “a final order of this honourable court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the properties described in the schedule below, which were found by the commission as properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”

Giving six grounds why the application should be granted, Okutepa submitted that the court has the statutory powers under the provisions of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, to grant the reliefs being sought.

The lawyer said it is a non-conviction-based asset forfeiture proceeding.

According to him, the properties sought to be attached and forfeited are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

In the affidavit in support of the motion, Daniel Adebayo, an investigating officer with the Special Duties Committee of the EFCC, said he had the consent of the commission’s chairman to depose to the affidavit and from facts gathered in the course of the investigation.

He said the commission received several petitions against the former minister from different organisations, alleging serious cases of corruption, abuse of office, and fraud.

He said the team wrote and received responses from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS).

He said it also included the Land Registry of Kebbi State, Sokoto State, and Kano State; the Kebbi State Inland Revenue Service; the FCT Inland Revenue Service; the National Universities Commission (NUC); and visits to the sold landed properties and the valuation of the assets.

The officer said the team invited and interviewed individuals who featured in the investigation.