The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.

Delivering judgment today, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the assets were liable to forfeiture after finding that Malami failed to sufficiently rebut allegations that they were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

The court dismissed claims that some of the disputed properties belonged to members of the wider Malami family in Kebbi State, ruling that the central issue was not ownership but the legitimacy of the funds used to acquire the assets.

Justice Abdulmalik held that Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act empowers the court to order the final forfeiture of assets found to have been acquired through illicit means.

— VANGUARD