Malami challenges EFCC in Court over interim forfeiture of assets, denies wrongdoing

Former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has mounted a robust legal challenge against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the interim forfeiture of multiple properties, insisting that the assets were lawfully acquired and not proceeds of crime.

In an affidavit submitted before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Malami rejected allegations that the properties listed in a January 2026 forfeiture order were linked to illicit funds. The document, seen on Monday, formed part of his formal response to the EFCC’s action, which was based on suspicions of financial misconduct.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had obtained an interim forfeiture order on the grounds that the assets were suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.

However, Malami argued that the commission failed to present any prima facie evidence directly connecting the properties to criminal activity.

“There is no document before the court showing these properties were acquired with proceeds of crime,” he stated, describing the allegations as speculative and unsupported by material evidence.

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A central element of Malami’s defence is his claim that the EFCC significantly inflated the value of the properties in order to strengthen its case. He alleged that assets originally purchased for hundreds of millions of naira were wrongly presented as being worth several billions. According to him, independent valuation reports placed the properties at substantially lower figures.

Malami further attributed his wealth to multiple legitimate sources, including over three decades of legal practice, investments in sectors such as hospitality, agriculture, and education, as well as loans from commercial banks. He also cited proceeds from asset sales, book launches, and other declared income streams.

He maintained that all his earnings and financial interests had been properly declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau in accordance with statutory requirements, insisting that his financial records were transparent and compliant with Nigerian law.

Beyond the financial dispute, the former Attorney General accused the EFCC of exceeding its statutory powers during the investigation. He alleged that operatives of the commission had seized properties without a final forfeiture order, evicted family members from residences, and confiscated personal documents.

Describing the actions as “extrajudicial”, Malami argued that they amounted to a breach of due process and constitutional protections. He urged the court to set aside the interim forfeiture order and restore his properties.

The case, which is also linked to an ongoing criminal charge against him, is expected to test the scope of the EFCC’s asset recovery powers and the boundaries of due process in high-profile corruption investigations. Legal observers say the outcome could have significant implications for future enforcement actions by anti-graft agencies.

The Federal High Court is expected to determine whether the contested properties will be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government or returned to Malami pending the conclusion of related proceedings.