The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed judgment in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) suit seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to July 15.
The judgment, initially scheduled for Friday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, was adjourned because the judge did not sit.
The EFCC is asking the court to permanently forfeit the properties to the Federal Government, alleging they are proceeds of unlawful activities. The anti-graft agency argued that Malami and the other respondents failed to provide satisfactory evidence showing the assets were acquired legitimately.
“The respondents woefully failed to show cause that the assets were lawfully acquired,” EFCC counsel Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) argued.
However, Malami’s lawyer, Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the application, insisting the commission’s case was based on suspicion rather than credible evidence.
“The court deals with evidence, not suspicion,” Adedeji told the court.
He further argued that several of the disputed properties were acquired before Malami became Attorney-General and therefore could not be linked to any alleged criminal conduct.
After hearing arguments from both parties, the court fixed July 15 to deliver its judgment on the forfeiture application.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
