A Federal High Court in Abuja adjourns delivery of judgment in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) forfeiture suit involving 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN). Sources report that the court had initially been set to deliver the ruling on Monday, after parties adopted their final arguments, but the judgment is deferred to July 10. The court’s decision to shift the date is reported without a stated reason.
The EFCC is seeking final forfeiture of the properties, arguing that they are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities and that Malami and other respondents have not sufficiently established that the assets were acquired through legitimate means. Malami’s counsel and lawyers for other individuals and corporate entities named in the suit oppose the application, contending that the EFCC’s case relies on suspicion rather than concrete, admissible evidence. They also argue that some properties were acquired before Malami assumed office, limiting any link to alleged official misconduct.
The proceeding is described as a non-conviction-based forfeiture case, following an earlier interim forfeiture order.
