By Adedapo Adesanya

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, July 10, to deliver judgment in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had initially scheduled the judgment for Monday after the parties adopted their final written addresses in May. However, the court postponed the ruling to July 10 without stating the reason for the adjournment.

The EFCC is asking the court to order the permanent forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government, arguing that they are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.

Counsel to the commission, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), maintained that Mr Malami and the other respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish that the properties were lawfully acquired.

Opposing the application, Mr Malami’s counsel, Mr Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the agency’s case was based on suspicion rather than credible and admissible evidence.

He further submitted that the EFCC relied largely on extrajudicial statements and contended that several of the properties in dispute were acquired before Mr Malami assumed office as Attorney-General, making them unrelated to any alleged criminal proceeds.

Counsel representing other individuals and companies named as respondents in the matter also asked the court to reject the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.

The court is expected to determine the application on July 10, when it delivers judgment on whether the disputed properties should be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government says another batch of Nigerians is expected to leave South Africa on Tuesday amid the renewed wave of xenophobic attacks that has led to the death of two citizens.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in a statement posted on her official X handle on Monday morning.

“Another evacuation flight will leave for Johannesburg tomorrow, Tuesday, July 7 (2026), to bring home our citizens,” Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu wrote.

The evacuation is the latest in the repatriation exercise by Nigerian authorities as they seek the safety of their citizens in South Africa.

Already, three batches of Nigerians have returned home since the evacuation began last month. The minister said the last flight for the evacuation is “expected to arrive in South Africa on 10th July”.

“Our Nationals are again advised to weigh the risks regarding whether to remain or return,” she said.

The Nigerian foreign ​ministry has said on Sunday that two Nigerians were killed in South Africa, one of them by police and ​threatened to take unspecified action if the attacks persisted.

Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu asked Nigerians in South Africa “who consider their lives at risk to take advantage of the FG-sponsored evacuation flights to be transported home”.

“Following the earlier evacuations of our citizens in 3 separate operations, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, extended the Evacuations beyond the June 30 deadline, with the fourth evacuation flight having arrived in Nigeria on 3rd July 2026,” the diplomat said. “Our citizens are strongly advised to take advantage of this extension and utilise the full capacity of the aircraft.”

The minister condemned the killing of the two Nigerians in South Africa, calling on authorities to “urgently investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice”.

“There are no signs that the situation is improving,” she said.

“Nigeria remains concerned about the safety of its citizens in South Africa as a result of the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants, and even more so following the deaths of 2 Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, during these unfortunate events,” the minister said.

“For many still sitting on the fence, they should do well to note that properties and investments lost can be replaced, but not lives lost,” she wrote.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad and will put all necessary measures in place to protect them.”

Several African countries have repatriated their citizens from South Africa as fringe groups began demanding all illegal migrants leave by June 30, in a campaign that saw violent protests and clashes in which foreign nationals were killed.

The Border Management Authority says that more than 35,000 people have already been repatriated or deported since June 7.

The groups mobilising against illegal immigrants blame them for high unemployment and lack of services, pressing social problems that analysts say are largely due to government failures.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The first prosecution witness has been presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, in the trial of the former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc (now Polaris Bank Limited), Mr Tunde Ayeni.

The witnessed from brought before the judge by the anti-money laundering agency on Monday, July 6, 2026.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Abba Muhammed (SAN), presented the witness identified as Mr Remigus Ugwu, a staff member of Zenith Bank Plc.

After the presentation, the matter was adjourned till July 16, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

The EFCC is prosecuting Mr Ayeni on an 18-count amended charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and diversion of funds totalling N15.6 billion.

The defendant was first arraigned on May 4, 2026, on a 17-count charge and was subsequently re-arraigned on June 22, 2026, after the commission filed an amended charge supported by additional proof of evidence.