Court grants final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to Malami

The federal high court in Abuja has ordered the final
forfeiture of 48 properties linked to Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general
of the federation (AGF).

 

In a ruling on Wednesday, Joyce Abdulmalik, the trial judge,
held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was able to prove
that the properties were proceeds of suspected unlawful activities.

Abdulmalik held that the former AGF failed to prove that the
properties were acquired through lawful sources.

Prior to the ruling, the judge dismissed several
applications and motions on notice filed by Malami, family members, and some
companies linked to the properties.

The judge ruled that the issue before the court is not about
ownership of the properties in question but on “how legitimate are the funds
used to require the properties”.

Abdulmalik said the respondents have not been able to
disprove the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired
illegitimately.

She dismissed the interim forfeiture order issued in respect
to nine other properties sought to be forfeited by the anti-graft agency.

The judge ruled that the EFCC was unable to prove that the
nine properties located in Kebbi and Kaduna state were obtained through
unlawful activities.

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