Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court has stepped down from two high-profile cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The judge announced his decision on Thursday during proceedings in one of the matters, a civil suit in which the EFCC is seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to Malami. The assets are said to be worth more than ₦213 billion.
Justice Egwuatu stated that he was withdrawing from the cases for personal reasons and in the interest of justice. His recusal comes shortly after the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, reassigned the matters to him. The cases were previously handled by Justice Emeka Nwite during the court’s Christmas vacation.
The development has stirred debate across social media, with many Nigerians weighing in on the implications for the EFCC’s prosecution and the broader fight against corruption.
Several commentators described the withdrawal as a prudent step to safeguard the integrity of the judicial process. Some argued that in cases involving a former Attorney-General and assets running into hundreds of billions of naira, even the appearance of a conflict could undermine public trust. For them, recusal is a safeguard meant to preserve fairness and protect the eventual ruling from claims of bias.
Read also:
- Controversy as CBN bans Naira cash bouquets days to Valentine, offenders risk jail term
- Witness: N2.1bn loan linked to Yahaya Bello repaid with funds from Kogi LGAs
- Adamawa police arrest suspected kidnapper, rescue 2 victims unharmed
Others, however, questioned the timing of the decision and speculated about possible pressures behind the scenes. A number of users expressed concern that repeated withdrawals in sensitive cases could weaken confidence in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive. Some went further, suggesting that high-profile defendants often benefit from delays and procedural shifts within the system.
The EFCC has not indicated any change in its position regarding the cases. Legal observers note that once a new judge is assigned, proceedings are expected to continue from the stage reached before the withdrawal.
The cases form part of a broader series of anti-corruption prosecutions pursued by the EFCC in recent years, targeting politically exposed persons and former public office holders. As attention now turns to who will take over the Malami cases, many Nigerians say the credibility of the judicial process will depend on transparency, consistency, and adherence to due process.
The outcome of the forfeiture suit and related proceedings is likely to remain under close public scrutiny, given Malami’s former role as the nation’s chief law officer and the scale of the assets involved.
