A Federal High Court in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, has been unable to proceed with a scheduled hearing on the interim forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, following procedural issues.
Justice Emeka Nwite had earlier ordered the temporary forfeiture of the assets on 6 January after granting an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The properties, described by investigators as multi-billion-naira assets, are located in several states, including Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna.
The court had instructed the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order in a national newspaper to allow interested parties two weeks to challenge the move before a final decision. Tuesday’s hearing was meant to address the commission’s compliance with that directive.
However, the case was absent from the court’s cause list, and proceedings could not go ahead. EFCC counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, told the court that the matter had been adjourned to the date but was later classified as a vacation case by court officials.
Justice Nwite explained that cases fixed during the court’s recess are typically returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment once normal sittings resume. He advised the EFCC to seek administrative intervention to ensure the case is reassigned without delay.
The EFCC alleges that the properties were acquired with funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities during Mr Malami’s tenure as Nigeria’s chief law officer from 2015 to 2023.
In an affidavit filed by an investigating officer, the commission said it had received several petitions accusing the former minister of corruption and abuse of office. The investigation reportedly involved scrutiny of banking records, asset declarations and information obtained from regulatory and land administration bodies.
The EFCC further claimed that Mr Malami’s officially declared income, including salary and allowances, could not reasonably account for the scale of the assets identified, some of which were allegedly held through companies and associates linked to him.
The case will now await reassignment by the Chief Judge before further proceedings can take place.
