Court Orders Final Forfeiture of Properties Linked to Malami

On a recent ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyc Abdulmalik, ordered the final forfeiture of 40 properties associated with former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had applied for the permanent forfeiture of these properties, alleging that they were acquired with funds from unlawful activities.

The court dismissed several applications filed by Malami's family members, including his wife, Nana Hadiza Malami, and son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, stating that they failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove the legitimacy of the funds used for the acquisitions. Justice Abdulmalik emphasized that the court's concern was not merely about ownership but whether the funds used to purchase the properties were legitimate.

The EFCC had initiated civil forfeiture proceedings in January, seeking to permanently forfeit 57 properties valued at 212.8 billion Naira, linked to Malami. The ruling marks a significant development in the EFCC's ongoing efforts to recover assets from high-profile individuals involved in financial crimes.