Court grants final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to Malami
A federal high court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Nigerian Attorney-General Abubakar Malami. The judge ruled that the EFCC successfully proved these assets were acquired through suspected unlawful activities.
Why it matters
This ruling represents a significant development in Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts involving high-ranking government officials.
The federal high court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF).
In a ruling on Wednesday, Joyce Abdulmalik, the trial judge, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was able to prove that the properties were proceeds of suspected unlawful activities.
Abdulmalik held that the former AGF failed to prove that the properties were acquired through lawful sources.
Prior to the ruling, the judge dismissed several applications and motions on notice filed by Malami, family members, and some companies linked to the properties.
The judge ruled that the issue before the court is not about ownership of the properties in question but on “how legitimate are the funds used to require the properties”.
Abdulmalik said the respondents have not been able to disprove the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired illegitimately.
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