Chief Judge John Tsoho of the Federal High Court is expected to assign a new judge to the asset forfeiture case involving the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami.
Bellnews reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) obtained an order of interim forfeiture of the ₦212.8 billion worth of assets from the court on 7 January.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the properties located in Abuja, Kano and Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, were acquired with proceeds of Mr Malami’s unlawful activities.
The judge who issued the interim forfeiture order, Emeka Nwite, announced on Tuesday that he had returned the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to a new judge expected to conclude the proceedings.
Nwite ordered an interim forfeiture of the 57 properties on 6 January and adjourned proceedings to 27 January (Tuesday) for the issuance of final forfeiture order.
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However, the matter was not among the 24 cases listed for hearing on Tuesday, although some lawyers who had filed processes to oppose the issuance of final forfeiture of the assets were present in court.
The lawyer to the EFCC, Jibrin Okutepa, a SAN, was also present in court.
When the judge, Nwite, was about to begin sitting, Okutepa reminded him that the case was scheduled for Tuesday for a report of compliance.
Nwite told the lawyer that it was the court’s tradition that all matters assigned to a judge during any vacation, like the last Christmas/New Year break, must be returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment as soon as the regular court sessions resumed.
According to him, the chief judge will reassign the matter substantively to any judge of his choice.