Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has stepped down from the N213 billion asset forfeiture case involving the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
The judge, who had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to the former minister, returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment.
Justice Nwite’s decision to withdraw from the matter is procedural rather than controversial, as he had been presiding over the case in his capacity as a vacation judge during the court’s Christmas and New Year recess.
With the vacation period now concluded and regular court activities resuming, it is standard judicial practice for vacation judges to return case files to the Chief Judge to be assigned to a substantive judge for full trial.
Following the return of the file, the case has reportedly been reassigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
The new trial judge has fixed February 12, 2026, to hear the forfeiture suit, while a related money laundering charge against Malami has been scheduled for arraignment on February 16.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had approached the court seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly acquired by Malami and his family members using proceeds of unlawful activities.
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The assets, estimated to be worth approximately N213 billion, include hotels, plazas, residential estates, and schools located across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi, and Kaduna states.
On January 6, 2026, Justice Nwite granted an interim order forfeiting the assets to the Federal Government and directed the EFCC to publish the order in national newspapers to allow interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
Malami has since challenged the order, accusing the anti-graft agency of misrepresentation and violating his fundamental rights, with his legal team seeking to have the forfeiture order set aside.