The Federal High Court in Abuja will on July 10, 2026, deliver judgment in the case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly connected to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date after postponing the judgment that had initially been expected following the adoption of final written addresses by all parties on May 26.
The anti-graft agency is asking the court to order that the properties be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government, contending that the assets are reasonably believed to have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.
At the hearing, counsel for the EFCC, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), urged the court to grant the commission’s application. He relied on a 47-paragraph affidavit together with 46 documentary exhibits, arguing that the materials before the court sufficiently established the basis for the final forfeiture request.
Okutepa maintained that Malami and the other respondents had not given satisfactory explanations regarding the legitimate sources of the assets. He therefore asked the court to uphold the commission’s application and transfer ownership of the properties to the Federal Government.
However, counsel to Malami, Adedayo Adedeji, challenged the application and urged the court to dismiss it. He also requested that the interim forfeiture order earlier granted be vacated.
Basing his argument on a counter-affidavit deposed to by Malami, Adedeji contended that the EFCC’s case rested largely on suspicion rather than credible evidence.
According to him, judicial decisions must be founded on evidence and not mere suspicion.
The defence further argued that the commission relied substantially on extra-judicial statements which, in a criminal proceeding, ought to be tested through cross-examination. Counsel noted that since the court had declined to hear oral evidence in the matter, such statements should not form the basis of a final forfeiture order.
Adedeji also submitted that a number of the disputed properties were acquired before Malami assumed office as Attorney-General of the Federation, insisting that such assets could not reasonably be regarded as proceeds of crime.
Lawyers representing other respondents and companies joined in opposing the EFCC’s application, asking the court to refuse the request for permanent forfeiture.
Following the submissions, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until July 10, when the court is expected to decide whether the 57 properties should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government or released to the respondents.
Separately, Malami is facing two criminal cases before another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja. One involves allegations of money laundering, while the second concerns the alleged unlawful possession of firearms. Both matters are still pending before the court.
