Judge steps down from Malami’s N213bn forfeiture case.
Justice Obiora Egwatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has stepped down from presiding over the high-profile forfeiture case involving former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and two others. The development occurred on Thursday when the matter marked CR/700/2025, a civil suit seeking the forfeiture of 57 properties valued at about N213.2 billion alleged to be linked to Malami, was called for mention in court. Justice Egwatu told the courtroom that he was recusing himself for personal reasons and in the interest of justice, and he directed that the case file be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.
The suit was instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which argues that the assets, including university buildings, hotels, plazas, filling stations, residential estates and large tracts of land across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna states, are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Malami and his sons. An earlier interim forfeiture order was granted in January by Justice Emeka Nwite following an ex parte application by the EFCC, temporarily forfeiting the assets to the Federal Government and directing publication of a notice to invite interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
Malami has challenged the forfeiture proceedings, maintaining that his wealth was lawfully acquired and fully declared to relevant authorities and seeking dismissal of the suit on grounds of potential conflicting rulings and violations of his constitutional rights. With Justice Egwatu’s withdrawal, the case is expected to be reassigned and resume under a new judicial officer, a procedural step that may affect the pace of the ongoing legal battle over the alleged illicit acquisition of the multi-billion-naira assets.
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