Former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has taken legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the temporary seizure of several of his properties.
NOP NIGERIA reports that he is asking the court to cancel the order that allowed the assets to be taken, insisting that the properties were obtained through lawful means.
Court papers filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja show that Malami told the court that all the properties listed in the forfeiture order issued in January 2026 were bought through income he earned over many years. He explained that his money came from legal work, business activities, and other declared sources of income.
The anti-graft agency had earlier obtained permission from the court to seize the assets while investigations continue. The commission said it suspected that the properties were linked to illegal funds.
In response, Malami argued that the agency did not present enough proof to connect any of the properties to criminal activity. He told the court that no record had been shown to prove that the assets were bought with unlawful money.
Part of his defence also focused on the value placed on the seized assets. Malami told the court that the commission gave figures that were far above the actual worth of the properties.
He said some properties bought for hundreds of millions of naira were listed as being worth billions.
According to him, independent property valuers later gave lower figures which he believes reflect the true value of the assets.
Malami also explained that his wealth came from different business interests built over many years. He listed his work as a legal practitioner for more than three decades as one of his main sources of income.
He added that he also made money from investments in sectors such as hospitality, farming, and education. He stated that other funds came from bank loans, the sale of assets, and proceeds from personal projects like book launches.
He further told the court that all his income and assets were declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau as required by law. He said he followed the proper steps expected of public officials when declaring assets.
Apart from disputing the ownership of the properties, Malami also accused the anti-graft agency of acting beyond its legal powers during the process.
He claimed that officers took possession of some properties without waiting for a final court order. He also said family members were forced out of their homes and that important documents were taken during the operation.
