…Orders Temporary Forfeiture of 57 Properties Linked to Ex-AGF
By Franklin Adole
The trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, took a dramatic turn in Abuja on Wednesday as the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, openly warned lawyers and litigants to stop attempting to improperly “approach” or influence him.
In unusually stern language that underscored the sensitivity of the case, Justice Nwite cautioned that his familiarity with counsel should not be mistaken for weakness, insisting that the only legitimate service lawyers could render their clients was to engage the best legal minds and allow the law to take its full course.
“I want to admonish and warn counsels and litigants that they should know the type of court they are appearing before. All judges are not the same,” the judge declared in open court.
“Irrespective of my familiarity with you, when I am dealing with any case, do not approach me. The best you can do for your clients is to get the best lawyers in this country. The law cannot be bent as far as this court is concerned.”
Justice Nwite went further, issuing a clear warning that any attempt to smear or compromise his integrity would be firmly resisted.
“Any attempt to tarnish my name will be resisted and dealt with. I warned, I warned, and I warned,” he said.
The warning came amid the ongoing prosecution of Malami, his son, Abdulaziz Malami and his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering involving about ₦8.7 billion.
The defendants are facing a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, concealment, disguising and laundering of proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The alleged offences span several years and include Malami’s tenure as Attorney-General under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In one of the counts, the EFCC alleged that Malami and his son used a company, Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, to conceal over ₦1.01 billion in a Sterling Bank account, funds they allegedly knew to be proceeds of unlawful activities. Other counts detail complex transactions involving hotels, properties and bank accounts across Abuja, Kano and Kebbi States.
In a related development, Justice Nwite has ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 landed properties allegedly linked to Malami and suspected to be proceeds of crime. The forfeited assets, spread across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi and Kaduna States, include luxury duplexes, hotels, plazas, warehouses, residential estates and large expanses of land, collectively valued in the multi-billion-naira range.
Granting an ex-parte application filed by the EFCC, the judge ordered that the properties be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government, pending the determination of the case. He further directed that the forfeiture order be published in a national daily to allow any interested persons to show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture order should not be made.
“It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is made forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities,” Justice Nwite ruled.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, the court granted bail to Malami, his wife and son under stringent conditions. Malami and his son were each granted bail in the sum of ₦500 million, while his wife was granted bail of ₦500 million, bringing the total bail to ₦1.5 billion. Each defendant is to produce two sureties in like sum, who must be landed property owners in high-value districts of Abuja, including Maitama, Asokoro or Gwarimpa.
The court also ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports, restricted their travel outside Nigeria without court approval, and directed that they remain in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre until all bail conditions are perfected.
Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to February 17, 2026, for continuation of trial.