By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced a total of 41 high-value properties, estimated at about N212 billion, to Abubakar Malami, the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, in what is shaping up to be one of the most expansive asset-tracing exercises linked to a former top government official in recent years.
Investigations by the anti-graft agency revealed that the properties, which cut across luxury hotels, residential buildings, parcels of land, educational institutions and a printing press, are spread across Kebbi State, Kano State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The scale, diversity and geographical spread of the assets have further intensified public scrutiny of the former justice minister’s years in office and the sources of wealth allegedly connected to him.
According to findings obtained by Newspeg, the largest concentration of the assets is located in Kebbi State, Malami’s home state, where properties traced to him are valued at an estimated N162,195,950,000. These assets reportedly include expansive landed properties, luxury residential buildings and commercial developments, some of which are situated in prime locations and are said to have been acquired or developed within the period he served as the nation’s chief law officer.
In Kano State, EFCC investigators reportedly traced properties valued at about N16,011,800,000. The assets in Kano are understood to include a mix of residential and commercial buildings, further expanding the footprint of the alleged property portfolio beyond Malami’s home state and into one of the country’s major commercial hubs.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accounts for another significant portion of the assets, with properties valued at approximately N34,685,000,000. These Abuja-based assets are said to be located in high-brow and fast-developing districts of the city, raising further questions about the funding sources behind the acquisitions, given Malami’s years in public service.
Altogether, the 41 properties, spanning three strategic locations in the country, underscore what EFCC sources describe as a complex asset web involving high-value real estate and commercial ventures. The inclusion of schools and a printing press among the traced assets has also drawn attention, suggesting diversification into both social and commercial enterprises allegedly linked to the former minister.
Although the EFCC has yet to issue a detailed public statement outlining the full breakdown of each property, the disclosures have already triggered intense reactions within political and civil society circles. Many observers view the development as a critical test of the Federal Government’s renewed anti-corruption drive and its resolve to investigate former high-ranking officials, regardless of status or political influence.
Malami, who served as Attorney-General of the Federation from 2015 to 2023, was one of the most powerful figures in the Muhammadu Buhari administration, overseeing sensitive legal, prosecutorial and policy matters for the Federal Government. His tenure was often marked by controversy, especially around high-profile corruption cases, asset recoveries and legal decisions that attracted sharp public debate.
As investigations continue, it remains unclear whether formal charges will be filed immediately or whether the EFCC will first move to secure interim forfeiture orders on the traced assets. What is certain, however, is that the sheer value of the properties running into hundreds of billions of naira has placed the case firmly in the national spotlight.
More details surrounding the individual properties and the next steps in the investigation are expected to emerge as the EFCC progresses with its probe and provides further official updates.
