A Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed judgment in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who presided over the matter on Monday, fixed July 10 for judgment after previously reserving its decision when parties adopted their final written addresses on May 26.
The EFCC is asking the court to permanently forfeit the properties to the federal government, arguing that they are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
At the last hearing, EFCC counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, urged the court to grant the application, relying on a 47-paragraph affidavit and 46 exhibits. He argued that Malami and the other respondents failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the legitimate sources of the assets.
However, Malami’s lawyer, Adedayo Adedeji, asked the court to dismiss the application and set aside the interim forfeiture order earlier granted.
He argued that the EFCC’s case was based on suspicion rather than credible evidence, insisting that the court should rely on proven facts.
According to the defence, some of the properties were acquired before Malami became attorney-general and therefore could not be classified as proceeds of crime. Adedeji also contended that the anti-graft agency relied on extra-judicial statements that should only be tested through cross-examination during a criminal trial.
Lawyers representing other respondents and companies listed in the suit also urged the court to reject the EFCC’s application.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until July 10 for judgment.
Malami is also facing two separate criminal cases before another judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja. One case relates to alleged money laundering, while the other concerns alleged illegal possession of firearms..
