The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has reassigned the two cases instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, to another judge.

The matters were returned to the Chief Judge after Justice Obiora Egwuatu recused himself from further handling of the suits. They have now been reassigned to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who has fixed February 27 for hearing.

Justice Egwuatu withdrew from both the civil and criminal proceedings on February 12, citing personal reasons and the interest of justice. The cases were initially heard by Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as vacation judge during the Christmas and New Year break, before being reassigned to Egwuatu at the end of the court vacation.

The two suits comprise a multi-billion Naira asset forfeiture action involving 57 properties and a separate N8.7 billion money laundering charge filed by the EFCC against Malami, his wife, Hajia Asabe Bashir, and his son, Mr. Abdulaziz Malami.

With the reassignment, Justice Abdulmalik has fixed February 27 for the re-arraignment of Malami, his wife, and his son on a 16-count charge of money laundering. On the same date, Malami and other interested parties are expected to show cause why an interim forfeiture order granted on the 57 properties should not be made final.

During the vacation sitting, Justice Nwite, on January 6, ordered the interim forfeiture of the 57 properties to the Federal Government, having found them to be suspected proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Malami. The order followed an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026 and moved by the EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.

The court directed the commission to publish the interim order in a national daily, inviting interested persons to show cause within 14 days why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. The multi-billion naira landed assets are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.

Malami subsequently challenged the forfeiture proceedings. In a motion on notice filed on January 27 by a team of lawyers led by Mr. Joseph Daudu, SAN, he alleged that the EFCC obtained the interim order through suppression of material facts and misrepresentation.

He urged the court to dismiss the suit to prevent “conflicting outcomes and duplicative litigation”, contending that the proceedings constituted an assault on his fundamental right to own property, his presumption of innocence, and his right to live peacefully with his family. Other applicants have also joined him in seeking to vacate the interim forfeiture order.

In a related development, Malami, his wife, and his son were arraigned on December 30, 2025, before Justice Nwite on a 16-count criminal charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025. The EFCC alleged that they were involved in money laundering to the tune of N8,713,923,759.49 (Eight billion, seven hundred and thirteen million, nine hundred and twenty-three thousand, seven hundred and fifty-nine Naira, forty-nine kobo).

They pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Malami and his son were initially remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while Asabe was remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre. On January 7, the court granted each of them bail in the sum of N500 million, with two sureties each in like sum.

However, Malami and his son were subsequently re-arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations bordering on terrorism. The duo, who are currently in DSS custody, were arraigned on February 3 before Justice Abdulmalik on a five-count terrorism charge.

The commencement of trial in the terrorism case has also been scheduled for February 27.