ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal High Court in Abuja has again postponed judgment in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) bid to secure the final forfeiture of 57 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The matter, which was scheduled for judgment on Friday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, could not proceed after the court failed to sit.
A new date of July 15, 2026, has now been fixed for the delivery of judgment.
The case had earlier been adjourned on May 26, when both parties adopted their final written addresses after presenting arguments for and against the anti-graft agency’s forfeiture application.
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The EFCC is asking the court to permanently forfeit the disputed assets to the Federal Government, arguing that investigations reasonably linked the properties to proceeds of unlawful activities.
Leading the commission’s case, senior advocate Jibrin Okutepa told the court that the application, filed in February, was backed by a detailed affidavit and documentary exhibits, which he said established sufficient grounds for the forfeiture request.
He argued that Malami and the other respondents failed to satisfactorily explain the legitimate sources of funds used to acquire the properties, urging the court to grant the commission’s application.
However, counsel to Malami, Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), maintained that the EFCC’s case rested largely on suspicion rather than credible evidence.
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He argued that the former minister had filed a comprehensive affidavit explaining the lawful acquisition of the properties and urged the court to dismiss the forfeiture request.
According to the defence, several of the assets in dispute were acquired long before Malami assumed office as Attorney-General, insisting they could not reasonably be classified as proceeds of crime.
Adededeji further contended that the anti-graft agency relied on extra-judicial materials that ought to have been subjected to oral examination during a criminal trial, adding that such evidence was insufficient to justify a final forfeiture order.
He also filed additional counter-affidavits on behalf of other respondents and companies joined in the suit, urging the court to vacate the earlier interim forfeiture order and reject the EFCC’s application in its entirety.
Justice Abdulmalik is now expected to deliver judgment in the matter on July 15, when the court will determine whether the disputed properties should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government or returned to the respondents.