The Lagos State Government said it has begun prosecuting 45 individuals and companies over alleged tax defaults running into billions of naira.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), disclosed this in a statement released on Monday.

Pedro said the defendants were recently arraigned before the Lagos Revenue Court for recovery of outstanding tax liabilities assessed by the state.

He listed some defendants and liabilities: Chidi Ajaere Emmanuel, N35.4 million; Ifeanyi Uzoaru, N13.5 million; Olufunmilola Abe, N30.7 million; IENG Nigeria Ltd., N67.1 million.

Others include James Fisher Nig.

Native Media Ltd. faces N24.1 million and N3.5 million; Saro Africa Int. Ltd., N24.5 million; Sheriff Deputies Ltd., N132.2 million, among others.

Also listed are Unique V. Capital Management Ltd., N12.3 million; Alkones Petroleum & Gas Ltd., N17.7 million; Century Power Generation Ltd., N18.1 million.

GMT Energy Resources Ltd. owes N145.9 million; Leaders & Company Ltd., N67.1 million; Bi-Courtney Aviation Services, N38.7 million; Heyden Petroleum Ltd., N33.2 million.

Barry Callebaut Nig. Ltd. owes N33.5 million; Quick Mix Ltd., N19 million; AA Rescue, N27.8 million; Funds & Electronics Transfer, N97.8 million.

Raybond Technical Ltd., N61.8 million; Centre for Management Development, N48.2 million; S.O. and U Ltd., N38 million; Union Diagnostics, N23.6 million.

Eyowo Integrated Payment owes N16.2 million; Dee-Jones Petroleum & Gas, N55.9 million; Compact Manifold & Engineering Services, N25 million.

Pedro said several defaulters earlier served pre-action notices and had since paid and would no longer face prosecution.

He urged taxpayers to comply with tax laws, especially filing annual returns and paying assessed liabilities.

“Failure to comply attracts penalties, interest and possible prosecution with attendant consequences,” he said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Thursday, urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to order the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government.

The anti-graft agency, in a motion on notice filed by its legal team led by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the respondents failed to place sufficient material before the court to justify setting aside the interim forfeiture order earlier granted.

The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, listed Malami, Hajia Bashir Asabe and Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami among the respondents, alongside several companies allegedly linked to the assets.

The EFCC brought the application pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, seeking “a final order of this honourable court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the properties described in the schedule below, which were found by the commission as properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities”.

Arguing the motion, Okutepa said the proceeding was a non-conviction-based forfeiture and that the court possessed the statutory powers to grant the relief sought.

He added: “This honourable court made an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The order of the honourable court has been published in a national daily, namely THISDAY Newspaper of 9th January, 2026.

“No sufficient cause has been shown why the properties under the interim forfeiture order should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Okutepa argued.

In an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC investigator, Daniel Adebayo, the commission said it received multiple petitions alleging corruption, abuse of office and fraud against the former minister.

Adebayo stated that investigations involved obtaining financial records from banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria, as well as inquiries from agencies including the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Code of Conduct Bureau and the Abuja Geographical Information System.

He added that land registries in Kebbi, Sokoto and Kano states were also queried, while assets were physically verified and valued.

The officer said individuals linked to the transactions were invited and interviewed.

He further stated that Malami’s earnings while in office between 2015 and 2023, including salaries, allowances and estacodes, were not commensurate with the value of the assets under investigation.

“I know as a fact and verily believe the findings of the investigation, which are as follows:

“Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, was the Hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, hereinafter referred to as HAGF, from 2015 to 2023.

“He was paid a total of N89,664,000.00 as salary between 2015 and 2023, whilst in office, with an average payment of N962,663.68 per month.

“He also received a severance allowance of N12,158,400.00 at the end of his tenure in office.

“Mr. Malami SAN was also paid estacodes allowances to cover his travel expenses whenever he travelled outside the country on official trips.

“He calculated and declared a total sum of N253,608,500.00 as the amount he received for the official trips between 2015 and 2023 in a letter written to the Chairman of the CCB as an addendum to his Assets Declaration Form in June 2023.

“Attached and collectively marked as Exhibit EFCC 2 & 3 are copies of the asset declaration forms filled out by Mr. Malami SAN from 2015 to 2023, together with a letter dated 16th of June, 2023 written by him to the Chairman of the CCB as addendum to the assets declaration form as found at his house during EFCC’s execution of a search warrant.”

Adebayo further deposed: “Aside from the actual acquisition of the properties which are manifestly disproportionate to Mr. Malami SAN‘s known and lawful sources of income, no building permits/approvals from appropriate authorities were obtained to erect most of the various structures in Kano and Kebbi States as part of a scheme to disguise unlawful origin of the funds used to acquire the assets.”

He alleged that some of the properties were acquired through proxies and corporate entities linked to the former minister.

The EFCC listed 57 landed properties spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, including assets tied to Rayhaan University in Kebbi.

Justice Abdulmalik fixed April 21 for the hearing of the motion.

The case stems from an earlier order of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on January 8, 2026, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, which granted an interim forfeiture of the 57 properties following an ex parte application by the EFCC.

The properties, valued at about N213.2bn, were said to be linked to Malami and two of his sons and were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The court directed that the assets be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government, and ordered the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper to enable interested parties to show cause within 14 days why they should not be permanently forfeited.

Following the interim order, Malami and other respondents challenged the forfeiture proceedings, urging the court to set aside the order.

Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has released 43 inmates from correctional centres to decongest facilities and advance justice sector reforms.

The development was contained in a statement on Wednesday by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN).

Pedro said the inmates were recommended by the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy.

He said the governor acted under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), empowering him to grant the prerogative of mercy.

According to him, 91 inmates were similarly released in December 2025, reinforcing the state’s commitment to justice, fairness and improved correctional administration.

 “The intervention aims to tackle overcrowding, ensure humane conditions and improve inmates’ movement to court for speedy trials,” Pedro said.

He added that the state procured two coaster buses for the Nigeria Correctional Service to enhance secure and timely transportation of inmates to courts.

“This measure is designed to reduce delays in criminal trials and promote efficiency within the justice system,” he said.

Pedro said renovation and upgrading of selected correctional facilities had also commenced to strengthen custodial infrastructure.

He noted that, with custodial services on the Concurrent Legislative List, the Federal Government could transfer control of at least one Lagos facility to the state.

“Such a move will address weak oversight, inadequate funding, lack of transparency and overcrowding in federal-controlled facilities.

 “The government remains committed to reforms, balancing victims’ rights, public safety, offenders’ rehabilitation and human rights protection.

“Lagos remains resolute in implementing effective justice reforms that ensure fairness and promote a safer society,” he said.