Alleged N212.8bn Assets: Court Postpones Judgment on 57 Properties Linked to Malami Until July 10

The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed judgment in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)'s forfeiture case involving 57 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his family members and associates.

The court, which had earlier fixed Monday, July 6, to deliver judgment, will now give its ruling on Friday, July 10.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had reserved judgment after hearing arguments from both parties in May following the conclusion of proceedings on the EFCC's application for the final forfeiture of the assets.

Although the case was listed for judgment on Monday, no reason was officially given for the adjournment.

The EFCC is asking the court to permanently forfeit the 57 properties to the Federal Government, arguing that they are proceeds of alleged unlawful activities. The assets had earlier been placed under an interim forfeiture order pending the determination of the substantive application.

During the hearing, the commission's lead counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Okutepa, urged the court to grant the final forfeiture request. The application, filed in February, was supported by a 47-paragraph affidavit and numerous documentary exhibits.

Malami, alongside companies and other individuals claiming ownership interests in the properties, opposed the application.

His counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adedayo Adedeji, asked the court to discharge the interim forfeiture order, arguing that the EFCC had failed to establish that the properties were acquired through proceeds of crime.

According to the defence, the respondents presented evidence showing that the assets were legitimately acquired, with some of the properties allegedly purchased before Malami assumed office as Attorney-General.

Adedeji further argued that the anti-graft agency relied largely on suspicion rather than concrete evidence and urged the court to reject the forfeiture application.

In response, the EFCC filed a counter-affidavit backed by multiple exhibits, insisting that the respondents failed to satisfactorily explain the source of funds used to acquire the properties.

The commission maintained that the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities and should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Following the adoption of all legal processes by both parties, Justice Abdulmalik reserved judgment, initially fixing July 6 before rescheduling the ruling to Friday.

The forfeiture proceedings run separately from an ongoing money laundering case involving Malami, his relatives and associates.

The disputed properties, valued by the EFCC at about ₦212.8 billion, include luxury residential and commercial assets located across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states.

The former Attorney-General has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that all the properties were lawfully acquired. Friday's judgment is expected to determine whether the assets will be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government or returned to the respondents.