Court Fixes Date For Judgement In EFCC Case Against Malami

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, July 10, to deliver judgment in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Naija News recalls that the judgment had earlier been fixed for Monday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, after the parties adopted their final written addresses in May.

However, the court postponed the ruling to July 10 without stating the reason for the adjournment.

The EFCC is asking the court to order the permanent forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government, arguing that they are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.

Counsel to the commission, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), maintained that Malami and the other respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish that the properties were lawfully acquired.

However, Malami’s counsel, Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the commission’s case was based on suspicion rather than credible and admissible evidence.

He further submitted that the EFCC relied largely on extrajudicial statements and contended that several of the properties in dispute were acquired before Malami assumed office as Attorney-General, making them unrelated to any alleged criminal proceeds.

Lawyers representing other individuals and companies named as respondents in the matter also asked the court to reject the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.

The court is set to deliver a final judgment on July 10 on whether the disputed properties should be permanently forfeited to the federal government or not.

In a related development, Malami, last Tuesday, appeared in court in continuation of the ₦8.7 billion money laundering charges against him.

Malami is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), along with his son.

It would be recalled that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Friday, May 22, 2026, adjourned till June 23, 2026, the alleged ₦8.7 billion money laundering trial involving former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe and son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami.

The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities to the tune of ₦8,713,923,759.49 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo), contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

At the resumed sitting on Friday, prosecution counsel, J.S. Okutepa (SAN), informed the court that the matter was slated for continuation of hearing but that the prosecution had been served with a letter seeking adjournment by the defence.