A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties valued at over ₦212 billion, which are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
According to The Cable, order was issued on Tuesday by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The application was argued by EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the properties were reasonably suspected to have been acquired through illicit means and should, pending the determination of the substantive case, be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.
According to the court, the scale and nature of the assets raised sufficient grounds to warrant interim forfeiture while investigations and legal proceedings continue.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the same court on Wednesday granted bail to Malami, alongside his wife and son, in the sum of ₦500 million each.
Justice Nwite imposed strict conditions for their release, including the provision of credible sureties and verifiable landed property documents.
The court ruled that each defendant must present a surety who owns property in high-value areas of the Federal Capital Territory, specifically Asokoro, Maitama, or Gwarinpa.
The judge further directed that the property documents submitted by the sureties be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
“The documents of the landed properties shall be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of this court,” Justice Nwite ruled, adding that the sureties must “depose to an affidavit of means to establish their financial capacity.”
The court also restricted Malami’s movement, ordering him to surrender his international passport and all other travel documents to the court.
Justice Nwite warned that the former attorney-general must not leave the country without prior approval of the court.
The case, which continues to attract public attention, remains under judicial consideration, with further proceedings expected in the coming days.
