A federal high court in Abuja has set July 10 as new date for judgement in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice.
Joyce Abdulmalik, the presiding judge, had earlier fixed Monday, July 6 for judgement after both parties adopted their final processes and argued the case on May 26.
However, the judge moved her judgement to Friday, July 10.
The EFCC previously secured an interim forfeiture order for the assets, valued at over N212 billion.
The properties are located in Abuja, Kano, Kebbi, and Kaduna. The EFCC had argued that the properties were proceeds of official corruption and abuse of office.
Malami’s legal team challenged the move, asserting that the assets were legitimately acquired by the former minister who served under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
At the last hearing, Jibrin Okutepa, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and counsel to the EFCC, prayed the court to grant the application, relying on a 47-paragraph affidavit and 46 exhibits filed in support of the motion.
Okutepa argued that Malami and the other respondents in the matter failed to satisfactorily explain the legitimate sources of the assets and urged the court to order their permanent forfeiture.
In response, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN and counsel to Malami and other respondents, asked the court to dismiss the application and set aside the interim forfeiture order earlier granted.
Adedeji relied on a counter-affidavit deposed to by Malami, arguing that the EFCC’s case was founded on suspicion rather than credible evidence.
