Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has dragged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Federal High Court in Abuja, insisting that his assets are not proceeds of crime.
Malami is seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order granted to the EFCC on some of his properties.
He argues that the assets were lawfully acquired through legitimate sources such as salaries, allowances, business profits, gifts (amounting to about ₦958 million), and inheritance.
In court papers filed on January 27, 2026, Malami specifically challenges the interim forfeiture of three properties (Nos. 9, 18, and 48) out of the 57 listed by the EFCC.
He claims these were properly declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau in 2019 and 2023, and that the anti-graft agency failed to provide prima facie evidence linking them to any unlawful activity.
The EFCC had obtained the interim forfeiture order on January 6, 2026, from Justice Emeka Nwite, covering 57 properties allegedly linked to Malami, his sons Abdulaziz and Abiru Rahman, and associates.
The assets, spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states, are valued at around ₦213.2 billion and are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Malami contends that the EFCC obtained the order by suppressing material facts and misrepresenting information to the court.
He is praying the court to vacate the interim order, restrain the EFCC from interfering with the properties, and uphold his fundamental rights, including the presumption of innocence and right to property.
This challenge is separate from an ongoing money laundering trial where Malami, his wife, and son face charges involving over ₦8.7 billion.The Federal High Court is expected to hear the matter as proceedings continue.
The EFCC, meanwhile, is pushing for the final forfeiture of all 57 properties.
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