Malami Insists His Wealth Was Lawfully Earned, Challenges EFCC Over Seized Properties

According to Ireporter Online, former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to overturn a temporary forfeiture order obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over several of his properties.

Malami, in court filings, is challenging the January 2026 order that allowed the EFCC to seize the assets on a temporary basis, maintaining that all the listed properties were lawfully acquired through legitimate earnings. He stated that his wealth was built over decades of legal practice, business ventures, and other declared sources of income.

The EFCC had earlier secured the court order on suspicion that the properties were linked to proceeds of unlawful activities, pending the conclusion of its ongoing investigations. However, Malami has argued that the anti-graft agency failed to provide sufficient evidence directly connecting the assets to any criminal conduct.

He further faulted the valuation of the seized properties, claiming that the EFCC’s estimated figures were significantly inflated compared to their actual market value. According to him, independent assessments conducted by professional valuers placed the properties at substantially lower amounts.

The former AGF also told the court that his financial standing stems from multiple legitimate sources, including over 30 years of legal practice, investments in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and education, as well as proceeds from asset sales, bank loans, and personal projects. He added that all his assets and income were duly declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau in line with legal requirements.

In addition, Malami accused the EFCC of overstepping its authority during the enforcement process, alleging that some properties were taken over without a final court determination. He also claimed that certain occupants, including family members, were displaced and that documents were removed during the operation.