Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in the suit seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed July 6, 2026 for judgment
after hearing arguments from counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, and the defence on Tuesday.
At the proceedings, EFCC counsel, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, told
the court that the matter was slated for the hearing of the commission’s
application for final forfeiture of the properties as well as other pending
applications before the court.
Counsel to the defendants, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, however
informed the court that the defence had filed 16 motions seeking to set aside
the interim forfeiture order earlier granted by the court on January 6, 2026.
Adedeji also urged the court to grant an extension of time
to enable the respondents show cause why the properties listed by the EFCC
should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
“My lord, we filed an application dated April 21, 2026, for
extension of time and a counter affidavit opposing the applicant’s motion for
final forfeiture,” Adedeji said.
He added that the counter affidavit, deposed to by Malami,
urged the court to dismiss the forfeiture request on the grounds that the
properties “are not proceeds of crime but allegations based on suspicion.”
In response, Okutepa told the court that the EFCC had filed
a 77-paragraph counter affidavit deposed to by one of its operatives, Adebayo
Daniels, alongside eight exhibits and a written address opposing the
applications by the respondents.
“My lord, we rely on all these processes in urging the court
to hold that the respondents have failed to show cause and to grant the
application for forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government,” he
said.
The anti-graft agency also asked the court to dismiss
objections raised by other respondents challenging the forfeiture proceedings.
Following arguments from both parties, Justice Abdulmalik
adjourned the matter till July 6, 2026 for judgment.
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