The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture of 48 out of 57 properties valued at about N212bn and linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seeking the permanent forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
The judge also dismissed objections filed by Malami, members of his family and several companies claiming ownership of the assets, describing the applications as lacking merit.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the issue before the court was not the ownership of the properties but the legitimacy of the funds used to acquire them.
“The issue before the court is not who owns the property, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties,” the judge held.
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The forfeited assets are located across the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states and comprise luxury hotels, duplexes, residential estates, shopping plazas, warehouses, commercial buildings and other high-value investments.
Among the affected assets are Meethaq Hotels in Maitama and Jabi, Abuja; several residential properties in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse and Gwarinpa; Rayhaan University and its facilities in Kebbi State; Rayhaan Agro Allied Factory; Azbir Hotel and other commercial establishments, as well as schools, filling stations and residential buildings.
The ruling followed an interim forfeiture order earlier obtained by the EFCC covering 57 properties allegedly linked to proceeds of unlawful activities.
Although the anti-graft agency sought the permanent forfeiture of all the assets, the court granted the application in respect of 48 properties after finding that evidence presented in relation to nine others was sufficient to exempt them from the final forfeiture order.
The EFCC had argued that the properties were acquired with proceeds of alleged unlawful activities and urged the court to vest ownership of the affected assets in the Federal Government.
