Hearing in the report of compliance by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the interim forfeiture of 57 property linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, was stalled at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Justice Emeka Nwite had, on January 5 6, ordered an interim forfeiture of the 57 property allegedly belonging to the former AGF.
The multi-billion naira landed property are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States.
Justice Nwite had granted the order following an ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).
The judge, in the ruling, also directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily for anyone with interest in the assets to show cause within 14 days of the publication why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
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The matter was then adjourned till January 27 for report of compliance.
However, the matter was not among the 24 cases listed on Tuesday’s cause list.
When Justice Nwite was about to begin sitting, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), who led the EFCC’s team of lawyers, informed the court that their matter was adjourned till Tuesday for hearing of their report of compliance.
“My lord, we have a matter that was adjourned on record to today but not on the cause list.
“When I confirmed from the registrar, they said it was a vacation matter,” he said.
Okutepa prayed the court to conclude proceedings on the matter, having been fixed for today.
But Justice Nwite told the lawyer that it is the court tradition that immediately the vacation ends, all cases fixed for the period would be transfered back to the chief judge for re-assignment.
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