Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, says he will challenge the Federal High Court judgment ordering the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to him.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami said he respectfully disagreed with aspects of the judgment and had directed his legal team to immediately file an appeal before the Court of Appeal.
He maintained that the judgment did not represent the final determination of the matter, stressing that the appellate process exists to ensure that legal issues are thoroughly reviewed.
Malami reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law, the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary, expressing confidence that justice would prevail at the appellate court.
He also urged the public and the media not to draw premature conclusions while the appeal process was ongoing, noting that every citizen has the constitutional right to seek judicial redress.
He further appealed to his supporters to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while allowing the legal process to run its full course.
His appeal follows Wednesday’s judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC’s application for the final forfeiture of the properties.
The court held that Malami and other claimants failed to establish that the assets were lawfully acquired, ruling that they had not displaced the reasonable suspicion that the properties were proceeds of unlawful activities.
(Ripples)