Hearing in the report of compliance by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in respect of the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday, could not proceed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Emeka Nwite had, on Jan. 6, ordered an interim forfeiture of the 57 properties allegedly belonging to Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The multi-billion-naira landed properties are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States.
Justice Nwite had granted the order following an ex parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, to the effect.
The judge, in the ruling, also directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily so that any person(s) or body (ies) who might have an interest in the property could show cause, within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government should not be made.
The matter was then adjourned until Jan. 27 for a report of compliance.
However, the matter was not among the 24 cases listed on Tuesday’s cause list, and it was observed that there were lawyers in the courtroom who had filed processes to stop the court from going ahead with the proceedings for final forfeiture of the assets.
When Justice Nwite was about to begin sitting, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, who led the EFCC’s team of lawyers, informed the court that their matter was adjourned for today for the hearing of their report of compliance.
“My lord, we have a matter that was adjourned on record to today but not on the cause list.
“When I confirmed with the registrar, they said it was a vacation matter,” he said.
Okutepa prayed the court to conclude proceedings on the matter, having been fixed for today.
But Justice Nwite told the lawyer that it is the court tradition that immediately the vacation ends, all cases fixed for the period would be transferred back to the chief judge (CJ) for reassignment.
According to him, the chief judge will reassign the matter substantively to any judge of his choice.
“I think you will have to pursue this administratively so that you can bring this (the case) to his (CJ’s) notice to fast-track the process,” he said.
The judge assured that if the CJ reassigned the case back to his court, the commission would be informed immediately.
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