- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal High Court Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, has re-assigned the money laundering case and the civil suit for forfeiture of 57 property filed against embattled former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) to another judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
In the wake of the development, Egwatu is set to decide on the hearing of the adjourned two cases.
While the civil suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, is scheduled for February 12, the criminal case involving alleged money laundering preferred against Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF); his wife Hajia Asabe Bashir and his son, Abdulaziz, is fixed for Feb. 16.
The ex-AGF, his wife and son are expected to be re-arraigned in the 16-count criminal charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, before the new trial judge, following the re-assignment of the case.
According to the practice, an existing case re-asssigns to another judge is expected to begin de novo (afresh) and issues are decided without reference to any legal conclusion or assumption made by the previous court, except parties agree.
NPO Reported that Malami, Asabe and Abdulaziz were, on Dec.ember 30, 2025, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Emeka Nwite of a sister court, who sat as vacation judge during the Christmas break.
They were arraigned on allegations bordering on money laundering offences to the tune of N8.7 billion.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts.
While Malami and son were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, Asabe was remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre before they were admitted to N500 million bail each, on Jan. 7, with two sureties each in the like sum.
Also, Justice Nwite had, on January 6, ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 property suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Malami, to the Federal Government.
The judge made the order following an ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, to the effect.
The judge directed the commission to publish the order in a national daily for interested person(s) to show cause, within 14 days, why all the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The multi-billion naira landed property are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States.
But Malami had since challenged the anti-graft agency’s civil suit, praying the court to dismiss same.
In a motion on notice filed on Jan. 27 on Malami’s behalf by a team of lawyers led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, the ex-AGF alleged that the anti-corruption agency got the interim order by suppression of material facts and misrepresentation.
Malami, who urged the court to dismiss the suit to prevent “conflicting outcomes duplicative litigation,” argued that the proceeding was an assault on his fundamental right to owned property, his presumption of innocence and his right to live in peace with his family.
The former AGF and his son, Abdulaziz, is also being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a five-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.