Former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has moved to challenge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in court over the interim forfeiture of assets said to be connected to him.
In filings before the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Malami argued that the properties listed in the January 2026 order were acquired through legitimate earnings, including his long-standing legal practice, investments, and other declared income sources.
The EFCC had earlier obtained the forfeiture order on grounds that the assets might be proceeds of crime. However, Malami maintained that the agency did not provide any concrete evidence linking the properties to illegal activity, describing the claims as speculative.
“There is no document before the court showing these properties were acquired with proceeds of crime.”
He also accused the commission of overstating the value of the assets to bolster its case, claiming that properties purchased for hundreds of millions were presented as being worth billions, contrary to independent valuations.
Malami said his wealth was built over more than three decades through legal work and investments in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and education. He added that additional funds came from bank loans, asset sales, gifts and proceeds from book launches, all of which he said were duly declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
He further alleged that EFCC operatives acted outside legal boundaries by taking over properties without a final forfeiture ruling, evicting occupants and seizing documents, actions he described as a violation of due process.
The dispute, which is tied to an ongoing criminal case involving Malami, is expected to test the limits of the EFCC’s powers regarding asset forfeiture and adherence to legal procedures.
He is asking the court to overturn the interim order, insisting that the properties were lawfully obtained and not linked to any criminal proceeds.
