The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the N89.66 million former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), earned as salary over eight years is grossly disproportionate to the N213.2 billion worth of properties linked to him.
The anti-graft agency argued that the wide gap between the former minister’s lawful earnings and the value of the 57 properties under investigation raises reasonable suspicion that the assets were acquired through unlawful activities.
The commission made the argument in a motion on notice seeking final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government. The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, is before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
What Malami Earned as Minister
According to an affidavit deposed to by EFCC investigator Daniel Adebayo, the commission obtained and reviewed Malami’s official earnings during his tenure from 2015 to 2023.
The affidavit stated: “Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN) was the Hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation from 2015 to 2023. He was paid a total of N89,664,000.00 as salary between 2015 and 2023, whilst in office, with an average payment of N962,663.68 per month.”
The former minister also received a severance allowance of N12,158,400.00 at the end of his tenure.
In addition, Malami received estacode allowances to cover travel expenses on official trips outside the country. In a letter written to the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau in June 2023 as an addendum to his assets declaration form, Malami calculated and declared a total sum of N253,608,500.00 as the amount he received for official trips between 2015 and 2023.
When combined, Malami’s total declared earnings from salaries, severance allowance, and estacodes amount to approximately N355.4 million over eight years.
The Value of the Properties
In contrast, the EFCC stated that the 57 properties linked to the former minister are valued at approximately N213.2 billion.
The properties are spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states. They include assets tied to Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, as well as other residential and commercial properties.
The commission argued that the difference between Malami’s lawful earnings and the value of the assets is so vast that it cannot be explained by legitimate means.
No Building Permits Obtained
The EFCC further alleged that most of the structures in Kano and Kebbi states were erected without building permits or approvals from appropriate authorities.
“Aside from the actual acquisition of the properties which are manifestly disproportionate to Mr Malami SAN’s known and lawful sources of income, no building permits/approvals from appropriate authorities were obtained to erect most of the various structures in Kano and Kebbi states as part of a scheme to disguise the unlawful origin of the funds used to acquire the assets,” the affidavit read.
The commission argued that the absence of permits was part of a deliberate scheme to conceal the unlawful origin of the funds used to acquire the assets.
Properties Acquired Through Proxies
The EFCC also alleged that some of the properties were acquired through proxies and corporate entities linked to the former minister.
The respondents listed in the motion include Malami, Hajia Bashir Asabe, Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami, and several companies allegedly used as fronts to acquire and hold the assets.
The commission told the court that investigations involved obtaining financial records from banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as inquiries from the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Code of Conduct Bureau, and the Abuja Geographical Information System. Land registries in Kebbi, Sokoto, and Kano states were also queried.
The Legal Argument
Arguing the motion, the EFCC’s lead counsel, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), told the court that this is a non-conviction-based forfeiture proceeding. This means the commission does not need to secure a criminal conviction against Malami before the assets can be permanently forfeited to the government.
Okutepa reminded the court that an interim forfeiture order was granted on January 8, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite. That order temporarily forfeited the 57 properties to the Federal Government and directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper.
The order was published in THISDAY Newspaper on January 9, 2026, and interested parties were given 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
Okutepa argued that no sufficient cause has been shown by Malami or any of the other respondents to justify setting aside the interim order or preventing final forfeiture.
What Happens Next
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik has fixed April 21, 2026, for the hearing of the motion.
If the court grants the final forfeiture order, the 57 properties will become property of the Federal Government. If the court rules in favour of Malami and the other respondents, the interim forfeiture order will be set aside, and the assets will be returned to them.
For now, the properties remain under interim forfeiture pending the court’s final decision.
Malami has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He and the other respondents have challenged the forfeiture proceedings and asked the court to set aside the interim order. Their full response is expected to be presented at the April 21 hearing.
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