Obiora Egwuatu, judge of a federal high court in Abuja, has withdrawn from presiding over two cases involving Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.
At the court session on Thursday, Egwuatu said he decided to withdraw from the cases for personal reasons and in the interest of justice.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Malami on a 16-count charge bordering on money laundering.
In December 2025, the anti-graft agency traced property worth N212 billion to Malami as part of an investigation into his stint in office.
The property — hotels, residential buildings, lands, schools, and a printing press — are scattered across Kebbi, Kano and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
BACKGROUND
The EFCC had arraigned Malami alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Bashir Asabe, on a 16-count charge over allegations bordering on money laundering to the tune of N8,713, 923, 759.49.
All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In a separate case, the EFCC is seeking forfeiture of 57 property suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Both cases were handled by Emeka Nwite, a federal high court judge, during the court vacation period.
Nwite had on January 6, ordered the interim forfeiture of the 57 property.
‘ALL JUDGES ARE NOT THE SAME’
Shortly after granting bail to Malami and his co-defendants on January 7, Nwite cautioned against approaching him outside the courtroom in a bid to sway proceedings.
“Before concluding, I want to admonish and warn counsel and litigants that all judges are not the same,” he said.
“When I am handling any case, please don’t approach me.
“When you are doing your case, you can get the best lawyers in this country to do your case, but don’t attempt to approach me for any help.
“I am not the type of judge. I know what God has done for me by giving me this job, and I have vowed to do it to the best of my ability.
“I have sworn before Almighty God and man that I am going to do my duty without fear or favour.
“Any attempt to try this will be vehemently resisted.”
After the vacation period, John Tsoho, chief judge of the federal high court, reassigned the case to Egwuatu who has now recused himself.
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