There is a fresh courtroom twist to the trial of Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as Justice Obiora Egwuatu abruptly withdrew from handling the two cases against the former Minister.
In a brief but weighty announcement during proceedings, the judge declared he was stepping aside for personal reasons and in the interest of justice.
Malami is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering.
The anti-graft agency had earlier revealed that in December 2025 it traced 41 properties worth a staggering N212 billion to the former minister as part of its probe into his years in office.
The properties, said to include hotels, residential buildings, lands, schools, and even a printing press, are reportedly scattered across Kebbi, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
With the presiding judge now out of the picture, attention shifts to who will take over the high-profile case, and what this dramatic development means for one of the most closely watched prosecutions in the country.
More details to follow.
