The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured an order of the Federal High Court for the temporary forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities associated with the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order in his ruling on an ex parte motion that was moved by Ekele Iheanacho (SAN) for the anti-graft agency.
Though the order was granted on Tuesday, an enrolled copy of the order, which was cited yesterday, revealed that the affected landed properties are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.
Justice Nwite said, “It is hereby ordered that an interim order of this honourable court is hereby made, forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in Schedule One below, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”
He ordered the EFCC to publish the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily to invite “any person(s) or body (ies) who may have interest in the properties listed in the schedule to show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria of the said assets and properties should not be made.”
Justice Nwite has, however, adjourned the matter until 27 January for the EFCC to report on compliance with the order for publication.
According to court documents filed by the EFCC, the affected property include:
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Luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Plot No. 3011 within Cadastral Zone A06, Maitama; File No: AN Enhancement 11352, which was purchased in December 2022 at N500,000,000.00 (value after enhancement at N5,950,000,000.00);
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Two-winged large storey building situate at No. 3, Onitsha Crescent, Area 11, Garki, Cadastral Zone A03, Abuja (formerly Harmonia Hotels Limited), FCT, which was purchased in December 2018 at N7,000,000,000.00;
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Plot 683, Jabi District, Cadastral Zone B04, comprising a five-storey building (now Luxurious Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Jabi, with 53 rooms/suites), which was purchased in September 2020 at carcass level at N850,000,000.00 with an additional N300,000,000.00 to take possession (value after completion N8,400,000,000.00);
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Property No. 3130 within Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, FCT, Abuja, comprising terraces, purchased in January 2021 at N360,000,000.00;
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Property No. 3 Rhine Street, Maitama, Abuja (Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Maitama, with 15 rooms), which was purchased in February 2018 at N430,000,000.00 (current value after rehabilitation is N12,950,000,000.00);
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Plot No. 1241B, Asokoro District Zone (No. 11A Yakubu Gowon Crescent), Asokoro District, which was purchased in July 2021 at N325,000,000.00;
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Shop No. C82 Citiscape — Shariff Plaza, Plot 739 Cadastral Zone A07, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, FCT, Abuja, which was purchased in March 2024 at N120,000,000.00;
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No. 4 Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, which was purchased in December 2022 at N300,000,000.00;
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Four-bedroom bungalow, Gesse Phase, Birnin Kebbi, which was purchased in 2023 at N101,000,000.00;
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Shops Nos. A36 and B3, Vegas Mall, Wuse II, Abuja, which were purchased in July 2023 at N158,000,000.00;
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No. 26 Babbi Drive, BUA Estate, Abuja, purchased in 2022 at N136,000,000.00;
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A bedroom duplex and boys’ quarters at No. 12 Yalinga Street, off Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, purchased in October 2018 at N150,000,000.00;
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Two warehouse shops, B40 and B46, Wuse Market, Abuja, purchased in July 2020 at N50,000,000.00;
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Twin houses at Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters, Cadastral Zone B01, Plot 14014, Gudu District, Abuja, which were purchased between February and May 2017 at N250,000,000.00;
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Properties acquired by Khadimiyya for Justice & Development Initiative at the Academic Garden City, Birnin Kebbi, sold by the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage, namely nine units of three-bedroom bungalows, three units of two-bedroom bungalows, and 5.4 hectares of land, which were purchased between February 2023 and September 2023 at N187,000,000.00, among other assets listed in the schedule.
