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Nigeria's Federal High Court orders final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to ex-Attorney General Malami

A Nigerian court ruled on July 15 that 48 properties tied to former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami must be permanently forfeited to the government, finding the respondents failed to rebut the EFCC's case that the assets were proceeds of crime

Courts·Shadow· active Who Decides·Whose Money ·4 takes · ·rbtfl upd Jul 17, 2026
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The split

The same story, as told by newsrooms in different countries. Their words, attributed and linked.

Nigeria

Channels Television

“Judge Abdulmalik granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's application, after holding that the respondents failed to rebut the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired through unlawful activities.”

Lagos-based Nigerian broadcaster with court-side coverage; led with the full property list and photos from the Abuja hearingread the original ↗

Nigeria

Vanguard

“The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, who is facing money laundering charges.”

Lagos-based daily; named money laundering charges as the charge framing, and identified the judgment as delivered by Justice Abdulmalikread the original ↗

South Africa

CNBC Africa (Reuters)

“A Nigerian court has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former attorney-general and justice minister Abubakar Malami to the government after finding they were suspected proceeds of crime.”

Reuters wire republished by CNBC Africa; added the EFCC framing as a government anti-graft win and named court documents as its sourceread the original ↗

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Summary

Nigeria's Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the permanent forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami to the Nigerian government on July 15. Judge Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the respondents had failed to rebut the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's case that the assets were acquired through unlawful activities. Malami, who served as attorney-general and minister of justice under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is separately facing money laundering charges. The EFCC described the ruling as a win for Nigeria's anti-corruption enforcement.

Why it matters

As Nigeria's top law officer under Buhari, Malami was the country's chief law enforcement official while allegedly accumulating these assets; the forfeiture ruling signals that the EFCC's pursuit of high-office corruption can result in permanent asset recovery, not just charges. It also tests whether President Tinubu's reform agenda extends to prosecuting officials from the previous administration.

What to watch

  • Whether the money laundering charges against Malami proceed to trial
  • Whether Malami or co-respondents appeal the forfeiture order
  • How the government disposes of the forfeited properties

The briefing, by email