Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of 57 Properties Linked To Former AGF Malami

now operating as Meethaq Hotels Ltd with 53 rooms, valued at N8.4 billion after completion.

Other assets include Meethaq Hotels Ltd in Maitama with 15 rooms; terraces in Asokoro; multiple residential properties in Gwarimpa, Apo Legislative Quarters and Wuse II; warehouses in Wuse Market; shopping units in Vegas Mall and Shariff Plaza; as well as properties in Kano, Kaduna and Birnin Kebbi, including plazas, bungalows, land and housing units.

The forfeiture proceedings are unfolding alongside an ongoing criminal trial involving Mr Malami, his wife, Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz.

They are facing an alleged N8.7 billion money laundering charge before Justice Nwite in a case filed by the EFCC and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025.

In the 16-count charge, the anti-graft agency accused the defendants of engaging in suspicious financial transactions and using bank accounts and extensive property acquisitions across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi to conceal the origin of funds allegedly derived from unlawful activities.

The EFCC alleged that the offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, a period covering Mr Malami’s eight-year tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the commission, Mr Malami, his wife and son allegedly conspired to acquire properties indirectly, retain illicit funds and disguise their origin, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.

In one of the counts, the EFCC alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Mr Malami and his son directed Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal over N1 billion in a Sterling Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

The court’s interim forfeiture order means the listed assets will remain under government control unless successfully challenged before a final determination is made.

While the court ordered his properties forfeiture, Malami has continually denied any wrongdoing. He was granted a N500 million bail bond earlier on Wednesday.