How Did Ex-AGF Abubakar Malami, His Sons Amass 57 Luxury Homes, Hotels, University Assets Worth ₦213 Billion? Inside the EFCC Money Laundering Case, Court Forfeiture Order, and Full Property List Shaking Nigeria
How did a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice allegedly acquire 57 high-value properties across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna? What explains the sudden emergence of luxury hotels, vast landed estates, factories, schools, filling stations, shopping complexes, and an entire private university tied to Abubakar Malami (SAN) and his two sons? And why has a Federal High Court now ordered the interim forfeiture of assets valued at a staggering ₦213.2 billion?
In a dramatic legal move that has reignited national debate on corruption and elite wealth in Nigeria, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), authorising the temporary seizure of 57 properties allegedly linked to Malami and his sons, Abdulaziz and Abiru-Rahman. The court ruled that the assets are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity and should be preserved pending full investigation and trial.
What exactly did investigators uncover? The forfeited properties include luxury duplexes in Maitama and Asokoro, high-end hotels in Abuja and Kano, shopping malls, warehouses, petrol stations, plazas, and sprawling estates across Kebbi State. Among the most striking assets are massive institutional holdings under the “Rayhaan” brand: Rayhaan University with multiple sites reportedly worth tens of billions of naira, agro-allied factories with heavy machinery, staff quarters, mosques, media outlets, model academies, and large commercial hubs such as Azbir Arena and Zeennoor Hotel in Kano.
Why are these properties raising alarm? According to the EFCC, the scale, speed, and structure of the acquisitions—many made while Malami served as Nigeria’s chief law officer—point to potential money laundering and abuse of office. Several assets were allegedly purchased at relatively low values and later upgraded into multi-billion-naira developments. Others are held through foundations, companies, and educational or religious fronts, prompting questions about whether public office was leveraged to build a vast private empire.
What happens next? The interim forfeiture does not yet mean permanent confiscation. The court has ordered that the assets be preserved while legal proceedings continue. Interested parties may be invited to show cause why the properties should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government. Meanwhile, civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates are asking: will this case mark a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against high-level corruption, or will it join the long list of stalled elite prosecutions?
As Nigerians digest the full list of 57 properties—ranging from luxury residences and hotels to universities, factories, schools, filling stations, and commercial plazas—the central question remains: how did a public official and his immediate family come to control assets worth over ₦213 billion, and will the courts finally provide answers that restore public trust?
How Did Ex-AGF Abubakar Malami, His Sons Amass 57 Luxury Homes, Hotels, University Assets Worth ₦213 Billion? Inside the EFCC Money Laundering Case, Court Forfeiture Order, and Full Property List Shaking Nigeria
How did a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice allegedly acquire 57 high-value properties across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna? What explains the sudden emergence of luxury hotels, vast landed estates, factories, schools, filling stations, shopping complexes, and an entire private university tied to Abubakar Malami (SAN) and his two sons? And why has a Federal High Court now ordered the interim forfeiture of assets valued at a staggering ₦213.2 billion?
In a dramatic legal move that has reignited national debate on corruption and elite wealth in Nigeria, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted an ex-parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), authorising the temporary seizure of 57 properties allegedly linked to Malami and his sons, Abdulaziz and Abiru-Rahman. The court ruled that the assets are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity and should be preserved pending full investigation and trial.
What exactly did investigators uncover? The forfeited properties include luxury duplexes in Maitama and Asokoro, high-end hotels in Abuja and Kano, shopping malls, warehouses, petrol stations, plazas, and sprawling estates across Kebbi State. Among the most striking assets are massive institutional holdings under the “Rayhaan” brand: Rayhaan University with multiple sites reportedly worth tens of billions of naira, agro-allied factories with heavy machinery, staff quarters, mosques, media outlets, model academies, and large commercial hubs such as Azbir Arena and Zeennoor Hotel in Kano.
Why are these properties raising alarm? According to the EFCC, the scale, speed, and structure of the acquisitions—many made while Malami served as Nigeria’s chief law officer—point to potential money laundering and abuse of office. Several assets were allegedly purchased at relatively low values and later upgraded into multi-billion-naira developments. Others are held through foundations, companies, and educational or religious fronts, prompting questions about whether public office was leveraged to build a vast private empire.
What happens next? The interim forfeiture does not yet mean permanent confiscation. The court has ordered that the assets be preserved while legal proceedings continue. Interested parties may be invited to show cause why the properties should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government. Meanwhile, civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates are asking: will this case mark a turning point in Nigeria’s fight against high-level corruption, or will it join the long list of stalled elite prosecutions?
As Nigerians digest the full list of 57 properties—ranging from luxury residences and hotels to universities, factories, schools, filling stations, and commercial plazas—the central question remains: how did a public official and his immediate family come to control assets worth over ₦213 billion, and will the courts finally provide answers that restore public trust?
