Former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has mounted a legal challenge against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the interim forfeiture of several of his properties, insisting they are not proceeds of crime.
In an affidavit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja and seen on Monday, Malami argued that all the affected properties were lawfully acquired through his decades-long legal career, business investments, and declared income.
The EFCC had earlier obtained an interim forfeiture order over the assets on suspicion that they were linked to illicit funds. But Malami dismissed the allegations, saying the commission failed to present any prima facie evidence connecting the properties to criminal activity.
He also accused the EFCC of exaggerating the value of the properties, claiming that assets bought for hundreds of millions of naira were wrongly presented as worth billions, adding that independent valuations show significantly lower figures.
Malami said his wealth came from legitimate sources, including legal practice spanning over 30 years, investments in agriculture, hospitality, education, loans from banks, asset sales, and income from book launches. He further noted that all his earnings were properly declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
He also alleged misconduct by EFCC operatives, accusing them of seizing properties without a final forfeiture order, evicting family members, and confiscating documents, describing the actions as unlawful and a violation of due process.
The case, tied to an ongoing criminal matter, is expected to test the scope of the EFCC’s asset recovery powers and adherence to legal procedures.
Malami is asking the court to overturn the interim forfeiture order, insisting the properties are legitimate and unrelated to any wrongdoing. The court is expected to determine whether the assets will be permanently forfeited or returned.
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