The planned hearing of a suit the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed for the forfeiture of 57 properties linked to a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, was stalled yesterday before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

On January 6, Justice Emeka Nwite had issued an order for the interim forfeiture of the landed property said to be located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states.

Justice Nwite had granted the order while ruling on an ex parte motion by the EFCC, which was moved by its lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN).

In the ruling, Justice Nwite also directed the publication of the interim order of forfeiture in any national daily for any person(s) or body (ies) who might have an interest in the property to appear before the court and show cause within 14 days of the publication, why a final order of forfeiture to the Federal Government should not be made.

The judge had adjourned till yesterday for the EFCC to report compliance, but the case was not listed on the court’s cause list for yesterday.

At the commencement of the court’s sitting yesterday, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), who led a team of lawyers for the EFCC, told the court that the case was adjourned till yesterday to enable the EFCC to report compliance with the earlier court orders.

Okutepa said when he enquired from the court’s registrar why the case was not listed, he was told it was a vacation case.

The counsel urged the court to hear the case since it was listed for hearing yesterday.

Justice Nwite told Okutepa that it is the court’s tradition to return to the Chief Judge all cases heard during the court’s vacation at the end of the vacation period for the CJ to reassign such cases.

The judge added: “I think you will have to pursue this administratively so that you can bring this (case) to his (CJ’s) notice to fast-track the process.”

He said the EFCC would be informed when the CJ reassigns the case to his court.

Source; The Nation News