Former AGF Abubakar Malami Challenges Property Seizures, Asserting Wealth Legally Declared to Code of Conduct Bureau

Abubakar Malami challenges the EFCC's seizure of his properties, claiming his wealth is clean and was fully declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 27, 2026, 7:33 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politics Nigeria

Legal Pushback Against Asset Forfeiture

Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney General of the Federation, has initiated a robust legal defense against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding the seizure of his properties. In documents filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, April 27, 2026, Malami challenged an interim forfeiture order obtained by the commission in January. He maintains that the anti-graft agency has failed to provide any concrete evidence linking his assets to illegal activity or the proceeds of crime, describing his wealth as entirely legitimate.

Disputing Property Valuations and Funding Sources

A central component of Malami’s defense is the allegation that the EFCC has significantly exaggerated the value of his holdings. According to the former minister, assets purchased for hundreds of millions of naira were presented to the court as being worth several billion. He argued that independent valuations provide a far more realistic financial picture. Malami attributed his wealth to a multi-decade career as a lawyer, along with diverse investments in agriculture, hospitality, and education. He further specified that his acquisitions were supported by commercial bank loans, asset sales, and personal gifts.

Compliance with the Code of Conduct Bureau

Malami asserted that all his financial earnings and property acquisitions were transparently handled in accordance with Nigerian law. He stated that every asset in question was properly declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), a mandatory requirement for public officials. By citing his CCB filings, Malami aims to demonstrate that his financial growth was documented throughout his tenure in office, contradicting the EFCC’s claims of sudden or unexplained wealth tied to criminal proceeds.