‘Abuse of office’: Court adjourns case against Malami to October

A high court in the federal capital territory (FCT) has adjourned the hearing of the case instituted against Abubakar Malami, a former attorney-general of the federation (AGF), over alleged abuse of office.

Oluyemisi Adelaja, the presiding judge, on Monday, adjourned the case to October 17 to enable Malami to put up his defence.

The case was instituted by Cecil Osakwe, a property developer.

In the suit, Osakwe accused Malami of allegedly using his office to arm-twist him to give out two units of three-bedroom flats situated in the Maitama area of Abuja, to Asabe Waziri, a civil servant.

The property developer added that the former AGF allegedly coerced him to hand over the property worth about N130 million to Waziri despite a subsisting court order.

According to Osakwe, Malami allegedly intervened in a civil dispute between his firm and Waziri.

He also alleged that Malami was behind the continuous harassment of him by security operatives.

He said the former minister was aware that Waziri had initially moved into the said property and stayed for over eight months before she was vacated from it by a court order that terminated the sale transactions.

At the resumption of the hearing on Monday, Victor Giwa, counsel to the plaintiff, frowned at the absence of the former AGF in the court.

Giwa said Malami was duly served court papers and was aware that the case would be heard on that day.

“My lord, the second respondent, Malami is not represented in court and the claimant is ready to open his case,” he said.

“We mobilised the bailiff to serve all the respondents in this matter. This case is very important to the claimant.

“With this case, we need to send a message to public officers that they cannot use their office to pursue personal interest.”

In his response, C.J. Adengowe, the counsel to Waziri, said since Malami was not represented in court, the case could not be heard.

After the submission of the two parties, Adelaja said he would grant Malami another opportunity to respond to the suit.

The court ruled for the adjournment of the suit.