The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed July 2, 2026, for judgment in the application for final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission).
key Highlights:
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is seeking final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Abubakar Malami.
- Joyce Abdulmalik fixed July 2, 2026, for judgment after hearing arguments from both parties in Abuja.
- Malami’s legal team filed several motions asking the court to cancel the interim forfeiture order granted in January 2026.
- The defence argued that the properties were not proceeds of crime and were targeted based on suspicion alone.
- The EFCC urged the court to dismiss the objections and permanently forfeit the properties to the Federal Government.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik made the pronouncement on Tuesday, after taking arguments from counsel representing the anti-graft agency and the defence team in the protracted forfeiture proceedings.
At the resumed hearing, EFCC counsel, J. S. Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the matter was for hearing of the application for final forfeiture alongside several pending motions.
However, defence counsel, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, drew the court’s attention to 16 motions on notice seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order earlier granted on January 6, 2026. He argued that the properties in question were not proceeds of crime but were being targeted based on suspicion.
“My lord, we filed an application dated 21st of April 2026 for extension of time and a counter affidavit to oppose the applicant’s motion for final forfeiture,” Adedeji submitted, urging the court to dismiss the request for final forfeiture.
He maintained that the defendant had sufficiently shown cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Read Also:
- Court grants BLord bail in fraud, forgery, impersonation trial
- Ogun court adjourns trial of driver in Anthony Joshua car crash to June 2
- Court orders arrest of ex-minister, permanent secretary over alleged $1.3m, N746.6m fraud
In response, Okutepa, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the objections and grant the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
“My lord, we filed a 77-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Adebayo Daniels, an EFCC operative, alongside eight exhibits and a written address, as well as a reply on points of law,” he said, insisting that the defence had failed to justify why the interim order should be set aside.
He further urged the court to discountenance all opposing applications and order the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to July 2, 2026, for judgment.
The case forms part of ongoing legal proceedings arising from the EFCC’s effort to secure permanent forfeiture of assets it alleges are linked to unlawful activities.
