Malami’s Forfeiture Of 57 Properties: Judge Returns Case File To Chief Judge

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, January 28, 2026, said he has  returned the case file of the asset forfeiture involving former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.

The Source reports that Justice Nwite, a vacation Judge, had on January 7, 2026, issued an order of  interim forfeiture of about 57 Properties worth over N213 billion suspected to be linked to Malami, his wife and son.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC, had in its motion alleged that the said properties which are scattered across three states of Kano, Kebbi, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja, are suspected to be proceeds from unlawful activities.

Justice Nwite, while ruling on the ex-parte motion brought before the court by the EFCC, also, directed that the forfeiture order be published in a national daily, calling on interested persons to show cause why the said properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

But in a statement on Saturday from Mohammed Bello Doka, his media aide, embattled Malami accused both the Department of State Service, DSS, and the EFCC of deliberately frustrating his efforts at filing his defence in the forfeiture case.

According to the immediate past AGF and Minister of Justice, the two Government agencies have been acting in ways suggesting that they are in league to deny him the opportunity of defending himself.

However, the matter was not listed among those to be heard on Tuesday, prompting  Justice Nwite to inform curious  counsels to both parties who were present in court that he has returned the case file to the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment to another Judge having presided over as a vacation Judge.

Counsel to the EFCC, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN,  had earlier reminded the Judge that the forfeiture case was scheduled for the day for a report on compliance, urging the Judge to conclude proceedings.

However, Justice Nwite insisted that it is the rule for vacation Judges to return case files to the Chief Judge for reassignment  at the end of the vacation period.