Abuja: The Federal High Court in Abuja issued a stern warning to lawyers involved in a high-profile forfeiture case, threatening jail time for those who violate court rules and cause delays. The case, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involves 57 properties linked to Abubakar Malami, SAN, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik expressed frustration over intentional delays caused by lawyers who submitted their legal processes late. The EFCC’s lead counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, raised concerns about deliberate attempts to stall proceedings, stating that some lawyers served documents late despite having filed their responses since January.
During the court session, Justice Abdulmalik refused to allow lawyers not listed on the cause list to represent their clients. The judge emphasized the importance of adhering to court rules and warned that any lawyer engaging in misconduct could face contempt charges and potential imprisonment.
Okutepa detailed instances of delayed submissions, highlighting that some processes were served as recently as this week, months after the initial filing. He criticized the tactic as a calculated effort to delay the hearing, noting that the interim forfeiture order for the properties had been published on January 9, with a 14-day window for interested parties to contest the final order.
Justice Abdulmalik declared that a specific deadline would be set for all parties to submit and serve their processes. She warned that failure to comply would result in severe consequences, including exclusion from the case. The judge adjourned the matter to May 26, setting an April 27 deadline for all submissions to be served on the EFCC lawyer.
The EFCC’s motion seeks the final forfeiture of the 57 properties, arguing that the respondents have not provided sufficient evidence to overturn the interim order. The properties are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, and the commission aims to transfer them to the Federal Government.
The case’s history includes a previous interim forfeiture order issued by Justice Emeka Nwite and subsequent reassignments to different judges. Malami and other respondents have challenged the EFCC’s suit, seeking to have the forfeiture order vacated.