The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, is set to reassign the ₦212.8 billion asset forfeiture case involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to another judge.
Naija News reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured an interim forfeiture order on January 7 against assets valued at ₦212.8 billion.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the properties, located in Abuja, Kano, and Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State, were acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Malami.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who granted the interim forfeiture order, disclosed on Tuesday that he had returned the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to a judge who will conclude the matter.
Earlier, Justice Nwite had ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties on January 6 and adjourned the case to January 27 for the issuance of a final forfeiture order.
However, the case was not listed among the 24 matters scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, even though lawyers who filed applications opposing the final forfeiture were present in court. The EFCC’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, was also in attendance.
As Justice Nwite was about to commence proceedings, Okutepa reminded the court that the case had been fixed for Tuesday for a report on compliance and urged the judge to conclude the matter.
In response, Justice Nwite explained that it is standard court practice for cases handled during judicial vacations—such as the recent Christmas and New Year break—to be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment once regular court sessions resume.
He added that the Chief Judge would now assign the case to any judge deemed appropriate for substantive hearing and conclusion.