By TAIYE AGBAJE

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (FHC), Justice John Tsoho, has re-assigned the money laundering case and the civil suit for forfeiture of 57 property filed against Abubakar Malami to Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hearing dates for the two cases, which will now be decided by Justice Egwuatu, had been fixed.

While the civil suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, is scheduled for Feb. 12, the criminal case involving alleged money laundering preferred against Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF); his wife Hajia Asabe Bashir and his son, Abdulaziz, is fixed for Feb. 16.

The ex-AGF, his wife and son are expected to be re-arraigned in the 16-count criminal charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, before the new trial judge, following the re-assignment of the case.

According to the practice, an existing case re-assigns to another judge is expected to begin de novo (afresh) and issues are decided without reference to any legal conclusion or assumption made by the previous court, except parties agree.

NAN reports that Malami, Asabe and Abdulaziz were, on Dec. 30, 2025, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Emeka Nwite of a sister court, who sat as vacation judge during the Christmas break.

They were arraigned on allegations bordering on money laundering offences 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, however, pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts.

While Malami and son were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, Asabe was remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre before they were admitted to N500 million bail each, on Jan. 7, with two sureties each in the like sum.

Also, Justice Nwite had, on Jan. 6, ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 property suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to Malami, to the Federal Government.

The judge made the order following an ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, to the effect.

The judge directed the commission to publish the order in a national daily for interested person(s) to show cause, within 14 days, why all the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The multi-billion naira landed property are located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States.

But Malami had since challenged the anti-graft agency’s civil suit, praying the court to dismiss same.

In a motion on notice filed on Jan. 27 on Malami’s behalf by a team of lawyers led by Joseph Daudu, SAN, the ex-AGF alleged that the anti-corruption agency got the interim order by suppression of material facts and misrepresentation.

Malami, who urged the court to dismiss the suit to prevent “conflicting outcomes duplicative litigation,” argued that the proceeding was an assault on his fundamental right to owned property, his presumption of innocence and his right to live in peace with his family.

The former AGF and his son, Abdulaziz, is also being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a five-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. (NAN)