RismadarVoice Reporters
May 26, 2026
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik has fixed July 6, 2026, for judgment in the case concerning the final forfeiture of 57 properties linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
At Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to the EFCC, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing on the final forfeiture of the properties as well as other pending applications.
In response, defence counsel, Adedayo Adedeji, SAN, drew the court’s attention to 16 Motions on Notice seeking to set aside the interim forfeiture order granted by the court on January 6, 2026.
The EFCC opposed the motions through counter-affidavits and urged the court to dismiss the requests made by the defence. Some of the applications filed by the defence also sought an extension of time to show cause why the properties listed should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Arguing the applications, Adedeji stated that the defence had filed an application dated April 21, 2026, seeking extension of time alongside a counter affidavit opposing the EFCC’s motion for final forfeiture.
According to him, the affidavit, deposed to by Malami, urged the court to dismiss the application because the properties were not proceeds of crime but allegations based on suspicion.
Responding, Okutepa told the court that the EFCC had filed a 77-paragraph affidavit deposed to by EFCC operative Adebayo Daniels on May 5, 2026, supported by eight exhibits and a written address, alongside a reply on points of law.
He urged the court to hold that the respondents had failed to sufficiently show cause and prayed the court to grant the commission’s request for the properties to be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Okutepa also asked the court to dismiss the objections raised by other respondents challenging the forfeiture proceedings.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026, for judgment.
