For the second time in one week, the Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled its judgement in the assets forfeiture proceedings against 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami. The court on Friday postponed the judgement to 15 July because Judge Joyce Abdulmalik did not sit. Court officials told our reporter that they did not know why the judge was absent.
Repeated Postponements
The court had originally set Monday, 6 July, for the judgement after concluding hearings on 26 May. However, on Monday, the court rescheduled the judgement to Friday (today) without providing any reason. Now, the case has been further adjourned to 15 July. This marks the second delay in delivering a verdict on the high-profile forfeiture case.
Background of the Case
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) instituted civil forfeiture proceedings in January, alongside a separate criminal case against Mr Malami, his wife, and his son. The agency obtained an interim forfeiture order against the 57 properties in January, setting off permanent forfeiture proceedings. Mr Malami and other interested parties have maintained that the assets were acquired legitimately.
EFCC Allegations
The EFCC alleges that its investigation showed the assets were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and held in the names of individuals and companies acting as fronts for Mr Malami. The commission asked the court to make the interim forfeiture order permanent, arguing that its investigation linked the properties to the former attorney general despite their registration under third-party names.
Malami's Defense
Mr Malami challenged the application and denied owning the properties. Through his lawyer, he argued that the EFCC failed to establish any connection between him and the assets or prove that they were proceeds of unlawful activities. He maintained that the commission relied on speculation rather than credible evidence and urged the court to dismiss the suit.
Value and Location of Assets
PREMIUM TIMES reported that up to 57 assets seized from Mr Malami, valued at N212.8 billion by the EFCC, are currently under an interim forfeiture order of the Federal High Court in Abuja. In early January, the court issued the interim forfeiture order after the prosecution told Judge Emeka Nwite, who handled the case as a vacation judge, that the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities. The multi-billion naira properties, largely luxury residential and commercial assets, are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.
Case Transfer and Court Directives
The case was later transferred to Judge Abdulmalik after the court vacation ended. On 21 April, the prosecution told Judge Abdulmalik that the lead lawyer for the respondents had an engagement at the Court of Appeal. Responding, the judge emphasised the need for strict compliance with court directives. She noted that the interim forfeiture order had been published with a 14-day notice to allow interested parties to show cause. She subsequently ordered all parties and interested persons to file and serve their processes on or before 27 April. The judge also warned lawyers against conduct aimed at delaying proceedings.
