EFCC Pushes for Final Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Malami

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reserved judgment in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026 after hearing arguments from both parties on Tuesday.

At the proceedings, counsel to the EFCC, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for hearing on the commission’s application for final forfeiture of the properties, alongside other pending applications before the court.

 In response, counsel to the former minister, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, drew the court’s attention to 16 motions filed on behalf of the defence seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order earlier granted by the court on January 6, 2026.

The anti-graft agency opposed the applications through counter-affidavits and urged the court to dismiss the requests by the respondents. Some of the applications filed by the defence also sought an extension of time to enable the respondents show cause why the listed properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

While arguing the applications, Adedeji told the court that the defence had filed a motion dated April 21, 2026, alongside a counter-affidavit deposed to by Malami himself. According to the senior lawyer, the former Attorney-General urged the court to refuse the EFCC’s request for final forfeiture on the grounds that the properties were not proceeds of crime.

 “My lord, we filed an application dated 21st of April 2026 for extension of time and a counter-affidavit opposing the applicant’s motion for final forfeiture, which was deposed to by Abubakar Malami, urging the honourable court to refuse and dismiss the order of final forfeiture as they are not proceeds of crime but allegations based on suspicion,” Adedeji submitted.

Responding, EFCC counsel Okutepa said the commission had also filed a 77-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an EFCC operative, Adebayo Daniels, on May 5, 2026.

He explained that the affidavit was accompanied by eight exhibits, a written address and a reply on points of law in opposition to the defence applications. “We rely on all these processes in urging my lord to hold that their application has woefully failed to show cause and we ask your lordship to grant the request as prayed and forfeit the properties to the Federal Government,” Okutepa argued.

He further urged the court to discountenance the objections raised by the respondents against the forfeiture proceedings.

Following arguments from both parties, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026, for judgment.

 The case is one of several high-profile anti-corruption proceedings involving former public office holders currently before Nigerian courts.