48 properties linked to Abubakar Malami finally forfeited – EFCC wins big

Yesterday the EFCC secured the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, SAN. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the Commission proved these assets were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and not acquired from lawful income. This is not a small win – we are talking about Rayhaan University in Kebbi, including its permanent site, temporary site, third site, the Vice Chancellor's house, and even Rayhaan Radio. Also on the list are luxury duplexes in Maitama, Meethaq Hotels with 53 rooms in Jabi, another Meethaq with 15 rooms in Maitama, Zeennoor Hotel with 131 rooms in Kano, and commercial plazas in Wuse Market. The full list runs from Abuja to Kaduna to Kano to Birnin Kebbi – it is staggering.

What gets me is the scale. This is a man who was the chief law officer of the Federation, the Attorney-General, the man supposed to be the custodian of justice. And we are seeing universities, hotels, filling stations, agro-allied factories, mosques, pharmacies, supermarkets – all linked to him. The EFCC got an interim forfeiture order back on January 6, 2026, from Justice Emeka Nwite, after an ex parte motion by EFCC counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. They published the order in national dailies and invited interested persons to show cause. Malami and 14 others came forward to object, but the court still granted final forfeiture. That tells you how strong the evidence was.

So now the question is: where was this energy when Malami was in office? How did a sitting Attorney-General accumulate this much property while serving as the nation's top lawyer? And more importantly, will anyone face criminal prosecution, or is forfeiture the end of the matter? Because if we only take the assets but let the man walk free, what message are we sending to the next Attorney-General?