Seized or Forfeited? What the Malami Property Case Means for Asset Ownership

Property seized during a criminal investigation does not automatically become government property. It may be held or preserved while investigators try to establish whether it is connected to unlawful activity. In the case involving former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, the EFCC sought forfeiture of 57 properties valued at about ₦212.8 billion. A Federal High Court in Abuja later ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties valued at roughly ₦180.4 billion, while excluding nine after finding insufficient evidence linking them to unlawful activities. Under the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022, ownership changes only after a valid forfeiture order. Until then, affected owners and other interested parties can challenge the action in court. Nigerians should therefore distinguish between seizure, preservation, interim forfeiture and final forfeiture when agencies announce recovered assets.

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