Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to overturn an interim forfeiture order placed on properties seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Emeka Nwite had on January 6 ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The EFCC alleges that the assets, valued at ₦213.23 billion, are linked to Malami and two of his sons, Abdulaziz and Abiru Rahman Malami.

The anti-graft agency secured the order pending the conclusion of investigations into the source of funds used to acquire the properties, which it claims were obtained through illicit means.

In his application, Malami urged the court to set aside the forfeiture order. However, the specific grounds for the request were not disclosed as of the time of filing.

The court has also not fixed a date for hearing the application.

Recall that the court had directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper, allowing interested parties 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.

The matter was adjourned to January 27, 2026, for a compliance report.

Among the seized assets are a luxury duplex on Amazon Street, Maitama, purchased in December 2022 for ₦500 million and currently valued at ₦5.95 billion after enhancement; two large storey buildings in Garki, Abuja, formerly known as Harmonia Hotels, valued at ₦7 billion; and Meethaq Hotels in Jabi and Maitama, with a combined valuation exceeding ₦21 billion.

Other properties listed by the court include commercial shops, warehouse facilities, plazas, residential estates, and extensive landholdings spread across Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Nasarawa.

These include properties in Asokoro, Wuse II, Gwarimpa, Apo Legislative Quarters, Birnin Kebbi, and Kano GRA, as well as several hotel facilities, shopping units, and large parcels of land.

Justice Nwite, while listing the assets, detailed the acquisition dates, purchase prices, and current valuations, noting that several properties had significantly appreciated following renovation and development.

Meanwhile, Malami, his wife Bashir Asabe, and his son Abdulaziz are already standing trial before the same court over alleged ₦8.7 billion money laundering offences.

On Wednesday, Justice Nwite granted Malami bail in the sum of ₦500 million, with two sureties required to provide landed properties in Maitama, Asokoro, or Gwarimpa.

The court also ordered Malami to deposit his travel documents and passport photographs and barred him from leaving the country without prior court approval.

Justice Nwite fixed February 17 for the commencement of trial on the 16-count money laundering charges filed by the EFCC against Malami, his wife, and his son.

The interim forfeiture represents one of the most extensive asset seizures linked to a former federal minister in Nigeria, underscoring the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to recover suspected proceeds of corruption.

The All Progressives Congress has dismissed criticisms from the African Democratic Congress over its ongoing nationwide digital membership registration exercise, describing the allegations as driven by fear and intimidation over the ruling party’s growing popularity.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the ADC’s claims that civil servants were being coerced into joining the party were false, baseless and aimed at discrediting what he described as a landmark innovation in party administration.

In a statement on Monday, Morka accused the ADC of orchestrating a disinformation campaign, including the circulation of a fake APC membership slip allegedly linked to a known terrorist, to undermine public confidence in the registration process.

“That claim is entirely false and unfounded and is calculated to cast a shadow over the cutting-edge digitisation of our party’s membership register,” Morka said.

According to him, the large turnout recorded since the launch of the e-registration exercise reflects Nigerians’ growing confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said is already producing tangible results across the country.

Morka said millions of Nigerians had voluntarily signed up to the party, prompting the APC leadership to extend the registration period from January 31 to February 8, 2026, to accommodate the influx of prospective members.

He argued that the ADC’s reaction underscores its discomfort with the ruling party’s expanding support base, but stressed that such concerns do not justify the spread of misinformation.

“While opposition parties fumble and trade in falsehoods, the APC remains focused on consolidating its reforms and setting a new benchmark for digital and democratic innovation in Africa,” he said.

Speaking at a joint briefing, the APC National Secretary described the e-registration exercise as a historic milestone, noting that it demonstrates the party’s commitment to transparency, compliance and global best practices.

Morka, who also addressed the briefing, said the success of the registration drive has placed the APC ahead of the Independent National Electoral Commission in capturing accurate and verifiable membership data, adding that the party remains committed to strengthening internal democracy and public trust.

The interim leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party has reaffirmed that Nabil Sarki Aliyu Daneji and Saadu Aminu Saadu remain the party’s valid candidates for the February 21 by-elections into the Kano State House of Assembly.

The by-elections are to fill the vacancies in the Kano Municipal and Ungogo state constituencies created by the deaths of two serving lawmakers.

The party said the names of the two candidates had already been duly forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission, insisting that their nominations were valid and in line with the party’s internal processes.

The NNPP was responding to claims by the spokesperson to the Kano State Governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, who had alleged that the emergence of multiple candidates from different NNPP factions justified Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s defection to the All Progressives Congress.

In a statement, the NNPP interim publicity secretary, Engr. Ibrahim Karaye, dismissed the claims, maintaining that the party had officially presented the sons of the deceased lawmakers as its candidates for the by-elections.

Karaye acknowledged that some factional elements, including Senator Mas’ud Jibrin Doguwa, had submitted different names to INEC, but described such actions as illegal and unauthorised.

He stressed that the party dissociated itself from individuals parading themselves as factional chairmen, noting that many of them were either former members whose memberships had been terminated or individuals who had never belonged to the party.

According to him, the NNPP remains under the leadership of Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Maikano as acting chairman, adding that Senator Doguwa had never been a member of the party.

He further stated that Hon. Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya’s claim to the party chairmanship became invalid following the dissolution of the Dungurawa-led executives by the party’s National Working Committee.

The NNPP spokesman advised the Kano State Government to focus on governance and policies that benefit the people of the state, rather than engaging in what he described as attempts to rationalise actions perceived by party members as a betrayal of the NNPP and its leadership.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has held a high-level consultative meeting with the national leadership of the Action Democratic Party at his Abuja residence, fuelling fresh conversations around opposition strategies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting, which took place at the weekend, was confirmed on Sunday by the ADP National Chairman, Yabagi Yusuf Sani, who described the engagement as part of the party’s ongoing consultations with key democratic stakeholders across the country.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Sani said the discussion was centred on protecting democratic pluralism, strengthening opposition stability and safeguarding credible electoral choices ahead of the next general elections.

“The national leadership of the ADP, led by the National Chairman, Yabagi Yusuf Sani, held a high-level consultative meeting with Atiku Abubakar, Wazirin Adamawa, as part of its ongoing engagements with key democratic stakeholders,” he said.

According to him, the talks focused on the need to preserve democratic competition, ensure constitutionally compliant political platforms and promote responsible political preparedness to protect voter choice and institutional integrity.

Sani dismissed speculations that the meeting was aimed at a merger or recruitment drive, stressing that it should not be interpreted as a signal of imminent political realignment.

“ADP remains focused on institutional stability, constitutionalism and keeping credible options open for Nigerians. Any future decisions, if and when they arise, will be taken transparently and communicated formally,” he said.

Despite the clarification, political observers note that the meeting comes amid heightened speculations about possible opposition realignments ahead of 2027.

In particular, attention has been drawn to ongoing discussions around opposition coalition talks, including rumours of a potential Peter Obi–Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso alliance on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.