Judge threatens to jail unruly lawyers in EFCC’s forfeiture case against Malami

A Federal High Court judge in Abuja has threatened to cite counsel for contempt and commit them to prison if they engage in disruptive conduct, as proceedings continued Tuesday in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s property forfeiture case against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Maitama, issued the stern warning during a hearing marked by the absence of lead defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, who was represented by a subordinate bearing a letter explaining his simultaneous appearance before the Court of Appeal in two matters involving the Peoples Democratic Party.

EFCC counsel, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, told the court he had received advance notice of Daudu’s unavailability but disclosed that he had already written to the senior advocate to formally register his displeasure over what he described as the manner in which the commission had been treated in the case.

Justice Abdulmalik, visibly assertive, directed all parties and interested persons to file and serve their processes on or before April 27, 2026, warning that any defaulting party would be deemed to have shut itself out of proceedings.

“Any counsel whose processes are not in will be deemed to have shut himself out,” she said, adding that any document served after the deadline would not be recognised by the court.

The judge also reminded parties that an interim forfeiture order had been published in a newspaper for fourteen days to enable interested parties to show cause — and that hearing on all pending applications would proceed as scheduled regardless of any party’s absence.

“I will not entertain any rascality from any lawyer who decides to be unruly in my court. If need be, I will cite you for contempt, dock you and jail you,” Justice Abdulmalik declared.

The matter was adjourned to May 26, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications.