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By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday issued a strong warning that any lawyer who deliberately violates court rules or employs delay tactics in the ongoing forfeiture proceedings involving 57 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, risks being committed to prison for contempt.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, made the declaration while expressing displeasure over what she described as repeated attempts by some counsel to stall proceedings in the high-profile case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Our correspondent reports that the matter, which centres on the EFCC’s application for the final forfeiture of the 57 properties allegedly suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
It, however,took a tense turn when EFCC lead counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, raised concerns over the conduct of some lawyers representing interested parties.
Okutepa told the court that several processes meant for the day’s hearing were deliberately served late on the prosecution team, despite having been filed months earlier.
According to him, some of the processes filed as far back as January were only served in April, while others were brought to him on the morning of the court sitting.
“These people filed their processes since January but did not serve them until April 18. My lord, about 14 lawyers served processes late, and one even attempted service in open court today,” he said.
He further informed the court that the matter had suffered avoidable delays since February, despite being scheduled for hearing of all pending applications.
Okutepa also disclosed that one of the senior lawyers, J.B. Daudu, SAN, informed him of his inability to appear due to another matter at the Court of Appeal but indicated that a colleague would be sending a letter to the court.
He urged the court to provide clear directions, warning that the prosecution team was being overwhelmed by multiple applications from the respondents.
Responding sharply, Justice Abdulmalik frowned at the conduct of some lawyers, insisting that the court would no longer tolerate procedural abuses aimed at frustrating justice.
“I will not take any rascallity from any lawyer. If you dare me, I will charge you for contempt, dock and jail you,” she warned.
The judge also refused to allow appearances by lawyers whose names were not on the official cause list, stressing that court procedures must be strictly followed.
She ordered that all parties must file and serve their processes on or before April 27, warning that any documents served after April 28 would be disregarded.
“Any process served after that date will not be received. That means you shut yourself out,” she cautioned.
Justice Abdulmalik further directed the EFCC to respond to all filings within one week, while granting respondents four days to file their replies.
The case was subsequently adjourned to May 26 for hearing of all pending applications.
The EFCC is seeking a final forfeiture order of the 57 properties to the Federal Government, arguing that the respondents have failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn the earlier interim order granted by the court.
The properties are allegedly linked to suspected unlawful activities and are currently under interim forfeiture following an ex-parte order issued on January 6 by Justice Emeka Nwite, who directed the EFCC to publish the order and allow interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
The case has since undergone multiple judicial reassignments before landing before Justice Abdulmalik, where it is now being actively contested by Malami and other respondents seeking to vacate the forfeiture order.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
