A Federal High Court has made a major ruling in an EFCC asset recovery case. The court ordered the final forfeiture of dozens of properties linked to former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami.
ABUJA, FCT — A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government. The ruling followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which argued that the assets were suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.
Why This Happened
According to the court’s ruling, the assets include Rayhaan University, Rayhaan Radio, hotels, factories, plazas, filling stations, large parcels of land and other properties located in Abuja, Kebbi and Kano.
The court held that the EFCC presented sufficient grounds to support its application for final forfeiture. It also found that Malami and the other respondents did not provide satisfactory evidence to show that the properties were acquired through legitimate income.
What They Said
The court ruled that the EFCC had established that the assets were suspected proceeds of unlawful activities, making them liable for final forfeiture to the Federal Government.
As of the time of filing this report, Abubakar Malami had not publicly reacted to the court’s decision. The EFCC is also yet to issue a detailed statement following the judgment.
Who Is Abubakar Malami?
Abubakar Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice under former President Muhammadu Buhari. During his tenure, he supervised legal matters involving the Federal Government and played a key role in the country’s justice administration.
What This Means for Nigeria
The development means the Federal Government has secured ownership of the affected assets following the court’s final order. It also represents another step in the EFCC’s asset recovery efforts through the judicial process.
The judgment may be subject to further legal action if any of the parties involved choose to challenge the decision through the appropriate appellate courts.
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