In a surprising turn, the judge handling the high-stakes asset forfeiture case involving former Attorney General Abubakar Malami has withdrawn, sending the Federal High Court into a procedural reshuffle.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who had overseen the interim seizure of 57 properties worth N212.8 billion, returned the file to Chief Judge John Tsoho for reassignment. The move effectively pauses the path toward a final forfeiture ruling.
“The court follows strict tradition: cases handled during vacation must be reassigned once regular sittings resume,” Nwite explained, signalling that a fresh judicial hand will now take over the matter.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which secured the interim forfeiture, alleged that the properties across Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi were acquired through illicit means.
EFCC counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, pressed the court to expedite proceedings, emphasising the urgency of concluding the case.
Legal observers note that the reassignment could affect the timeline for resolving one of Nigeria’s most significant forfeiture actions, while lawyers on both sides prepare for the next judicial phase.
AFRIPOST reports that this fresh development shows the procedural complexities of high-profile cases in Nigeria’s judiciary, where even a single judge’s withdrawal can trigger delays and renewed legal manoeuvring.