Abuja — A Federal High Court judge in Abuja has stepped aside from two high-profile legal proceedings involving former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN. The withdrawal comes as both civil and criminal cases brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the ex-AGF continue to attract national attention.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu announced his recusal on Thursday after the civil forfeiture suit concerning Malami’s alleged properties was called for mention in court. The judge cited personal reasons and the interest of justice as the basis for his decision, without providing further details. Legal observers say such withdrawals are not uncommon in high-stakes cases to avoid potential conflicts of interest or perceptions of bias.
The recusal applies to two separate matters. The first is a civil forfeiture suit involving 57 landed properties spread across several states, which the EFCC alleges were acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities. The second is a 16-count criminal money-laundering charge filed by the anti-graft agency, targeting Malami, his wife, Asabe Bashir, and his son, Abdulaziz Malami.
The civil forfeiture suit has been one of the most closely watched asset recovery cases in recent years, given the scale and value of the properties involved. The EFCC claims that the combined value of the 57 properties runs into billions of naira, while Malami’s legal team has consistently challenged the agency’s allegations and sought to have interim orders set aside.
This is not the first instance of judicial withdrawal in Malami’s ongoing legal battles. Earlier in the year, Justice Emeka Nwite also recused himself from the forfeiture case and returned the file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment. Legal analysts note that repeated recusal can cause procedural delays but is generally seen as a safeguard to maintain the integrity of the judiciary.
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The EFCC, in both the civil and criminal suits, alleges that Malami abused his former public office to accumulate wealth outside of lawful earnings. The agency’s investigations into the 57 properties and associated financial transactions are ongoing and remain a central point of the broader anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria.
With Justice Egwuatu stepping down, the case files will now be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, who will assign the matters to a new judge. Court insiders indicate that new dates for hearing are expected once the reassignment is finalized, though no official schedule has been announced.
Abubakar Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2023. During his tenure, he was involved in several high-profile legal and political decisions, which have made the current EFCC actions particularly sensitive and highly publicized.
Legal experts caution that while the recusal may temporarily slow proceedings, it does not affect the substantive merits of the cases, which will continue under new judicial oversight. Both civil and criminal matters are expected to proceed with further hearings and submissions from the parties involved.
The EFCC has reiterated its commitment to pursuing all lawful avenues for asset recovery and anti-corruption enforcement. Observers note that the outcomes of these cases could set significant precedents for public officeholders and ongoing efforts to tackle financial crimes in Nigeria.
