Malami Explains Property Acquisition: Defends Against EFCC Forfeiture in Court
By: Abudu Olalekan
Former AGF Abubakar Malami tells Federal High Court his properties were bought lawfully, per CCB declarations. Challenges EFCC’s interim forfeiture order amid money laundering charges. Get the full story.
You ever wonder how the big shots explain their fancy lifestyles when trouble knocks? Like, picture this: A former top lawyer, once calling the shots as Attorney General, now in the hot seat defending his homes and lands. That’s Abubakar Malami, SAN, the ex-AGF under Buhari. He’s telling a Federal High Court in Abuja that all those properties the EFCC wants to snatch? Acquired fair and square. Legitimate means, he says, backed by his assets declarations at the Code of Conduct Bureau. No shady deals. Just hard-earned cash from salaries, books, businesses. Reportersroom’s got the scoop on this courtroom drama, straight from the motion filed January 26, 2026.
Let me weave this tale for you, not like some stiff legal doc, but as if we’re gossiping over garri and soup. Malami’s team, led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, fires off this motion on notice. They claim the EFCC pulled a fast one—got that interim order by hiding key facts and twisting stories. Sneaky, right? Malami insists his income streams over the years prove it all. Profits from businesses rolling in. Enough to buy plots and duplexes without breaking a sweat. Boom. That’s the defense.
Daudu lays it out: Malami declared everything to the CCB. Salaries, estacodes, severance—totaling N374,630,900 million. Wait, that sounds off, but you get it, big bucks. Sitting allowances from boards like the Federal Judicial Service Commission, FCT Judicial Service one, LPPC, even a presidential committee. Then, N574,073,000 from sold assets. Business turnover? A whopping N10,017,382,684. Loans to businesses at N2,522,000,000. And get this—a traditional gift from friends, N958,000,000. Plus, book launch money: N509,880,000 from his tome, “Contemporary Issues on Nigerian Law and Practice: Thorny Terrains in Traversing the Nigerian Justice Sector: My Travails and Triumphs.” Who knew writing pays that well?
Now, the heat’s on three specific properties out of 57 the EFCC listed for forfeiture. Malami wants the court to lift the interim order on these—Nos. 9, 18, and 48. First, Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano. Bought July 31, 2019; no price listed, but legit. Then, a Bedroom duplex with boys quarters at No.12, Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja. Snagged in October 2018 for N150 million. And the ADC Kadi Malami Foundation Building, N56 million—held in trust for his late dad’s estate. All declared in CCB forms from 2019 and 2023. No. 48 especially, for the family legacy.
Flashback: January 6, 2026. Justice Emeka Nwite, vacation judge, grants EFCC’s ex parte motion by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN. Temp forfeiture of all 57 spots—multi-billion naira lands in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna. EFCC had to publish in a national daily; folks get 14 days to object. But Malami’s fighting back hard. In his suit FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, he wants the order vacated. Restrain EFCC from messing with his stuff. Argues it’s an attack on his rights—to property, innocence presumption, peaceful family life.
Daudu’s got 14 grounds. Says no prima facie link to crimes. Assets declared clear as day, values and titles shown. Legit from post-appointment buys, compliant with Constitution’s 5th Schedule. EFCC’s order? Based on lies, suppressed facts, exaggerated values to fool the court. Manipulated valuations, he claims. No evidence of unlawful ties. Dismiss the suit to avoid duplicate fights, conflicting rulings.
The adjournment to January 27? Didn’t happen. Case not on list—vacation over, file back to chief judge for reassignment. Lawyers showed up anyway, trying to block final forfeiture. Meanwhile, Malami’s in DSS custody on money laundering and alleged terrorism financing charges. Rough times.
This story’s got layers, folks. Malami, once the law’s top dog, now dodging the same net. I chatted with a buddy in legal circles; he says it’s classic—power players using declarations as shields. But EFCC’s relentless. Properties worth billions, questions linger. Did the income really add up? Or smoke and mirrors? Abrupt end to his freedom, huh? Sitting in custody while fighting for his homes.
Formal bit: The court must weigh if the order was wrongly granted ex parte. Judicial discretion and all. But casually? It’s wild how one man’s triumph turns to travails. Reportersroom’s watching close. No. 9, 18, 48—could be free soon, or not. Impacts his legacy, family’s peace. In Nigeria, where corruption hunts are political too, this tale reminds us: Declare everything, or pay the price.
Think about it. From AGF office to defendant seat. Life flips fast. Stay tuned; next hearing could change it all. What a ride.
