Court to rule on final forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami July 2

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed July 2, 2026 for judgment in the final forfeiture proceedings involving 57 properties allegedly linked to Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, being pursued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The matter, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, was adjourned on Tuesday, after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence counsel on the pending applications challenging earlier interim forfeiture orders.

At the resumed proceedings, EFCC counsel, J.S. Okutepa, informed the court that the day’s business was for the hearing of the final forfeiture application alongside other pending motions connected to the case filed by the anti-graft agency.

However, counsel to Malami, Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), drew the attention of the court to 16 motions on notice seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order previously granted on January 6, 2026. The defence argued that the properties in question were not proceeds of crime, insisting that the forfeiture action was based on mere suspicion.

Adedeji also informed the court of an application dated April 21, 2026, seeking extension of time within which to respond to the final forfeiture proceedings.

He urged the court to dismiss the EFCC’s application, maintaining that the defendant had adequately challenged the claims.

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“My lord, we filed an application dated 21st of April 2026 for extension of time and a counter-affidavit opposing the applicant’s motion for final forfeiture.

“The affidavit was deposed to by Abubakar Malami, urging the honourable court to refuse and dismiss the order of final forfeiture as the properties are not proceeds of crime but allegations based on suspicion,” he submitted.

In response, Okutepa, EFCC counsel urged the court to dismiss all the defence applications, insisting that the agency had sufficiently established its case.

He told the court that the EFCC had filed a 77-paragraph affidavit deposed to by an operative, Adebayo Daniels, on May 5, 2026, supported by eight exhibits and a written address, alongside a reply on points of law.

 

“My lord, we rely on all these processes and urge your lordship to hold that the respondents have failed to show cause why the properties should not be forfeited to the Federal Government,” he argued.

Okutepa further urged the court to discountenance all opposing applications and grant the final forfeiture as prayed.

After hearing submissions from both parties, Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to July 2, 2026, for judgment.