EFCC Moves for Final Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Former Attorney General Abubakar Malami

The EFCC asks the court for permanent forfeiture of 57 properties linked to former AGF Abubakar Malami, citing a massive gap between his salary and wealth.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 4:52 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from THISDAYLIVE

Seeking Permanent Asset Forfeiture

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has formally requested the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant a final forfeiture order for 57 high-value properties allegedly linked to Abubakar Malami, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). Led by senior advocates Jibrin Okutepa and Ekele Iheanacho, the EFCC’s legal team argued before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the respondents have failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn an existing interim forfeiture order. The motion, designated FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, targets a wide array of real estate and corporate entities allegedly used to disguise the origin of illicit funds.

Disproportionate Wealth and Lawful Income

At the heart of the EFCC’s argument is the stark contrast between Malami’s documented earnings and the scale of his assets. According to an affidavit deposed by Daniel Adebayo, an investigator with the commission, Malami earned a total salary of N89,664,000 during his eight-year tenure (2015–2023), averaging roughly N962,663 per month. Even when including a N12.1 million severance package and N253.6 million in declared estacodes for official travel, the EFCC maintains that these sums are "manifestly disproportionate" to the 57 multi-billion naira properties located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna.

The Use of Front Companies and Third Parties

The investigation alleges that Malami utilized a network of third parties and front companies, many operating under the Rayhaan Group Ltd, to acquire these assets. Among the listed properties are the temporary and permanent sites of Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, as well as various luxury hotels and agro-allied firms. The EFCC further claimed that many of the structures in Kano and Kebbi were erected without building permits or approvals from the appropriate authorities—a tactic the commission describes as a scheme to hide the unlawful origin of the construction funds.