Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, has urged the legal profession to adopt a zero-tolerance stance against any attempt to improperly influence judges, insisting that such behaviour poses a grave threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s justice system. He called for swift and decisive punishment for any lawyer or litigant found culpable.
Okutepa made the remarks while responding to a report by TheNigeriaLawyer titled “LPDC Must Investigate: Lawyers Urge Justice Nwite to Petition Against Those Allegedly Approaching Him in Malami N8.7 Billion Money Laundering Trial.” The report highlighted growing concerns within the legal community over alleged efforts to compromise judicial proceedings.
According to TheNigeriaLawyer, Okutepa—who also serves as lead prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)—challenged judicial officers to take firm action against offenders, including ordering their arrest where necessary.
“I believe the time has come for judges to direct the arrest of any lawyer or litigant who approaches them seeking judicial favour,” Okutepa stated. “Since my call to the Bar in 1991, I have never, directly or indirectly, sought favour from any judicial officer. I stand for the sanctity of justice. Those who practise law must renounce wrongdoing.”
He further called for the public exposure of individuals who attempt to corrupt the judicial process, stressing that ethical discipline must be strictly enforced within the profession to preserve public confidence in the courts.
Okutepa’s intervention follows mounting pressure from legal practitioners urging Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to formally petition the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) over alleged attempts by unnamed persons to influence his rulings in a high-profile corruption case.
Justice Nwite had earlier disclosed in open court that he had received private approaches intended to compromise proceedings in the N8.7 billion money laundering trial involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz.
After granting bail to the defendants, the judge issued a strong warning to all counsel and parties, making it clear that he would not tolerate any improper conduct. He reaffirmed his resolve to discharge his duties impartially and cautioned that any attempt to subvert the course of justice would be firmly resisted.
While Justice Nwite did not identify those behind the alleged approaches or clarify whether they were linked to the prosecution or defence, Malami’s legal team is led by Chief Joseph Daudu (SAN), while the EFCC prosecution is headed by Okutepa.
The revelations have sparked widespread debate, particularly on social media, with several lawyers demanding a thorough LPDC investigation and appropriate sanctions against any practitioner found guilty. Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have also claimed that similar incidents have occurred in other sensitive cases, although no specific individuals were named.
The defendants are currently facing a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering before Justice Nwite in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025. The EFCC alleges that they carried out suspicious financial transactions, operating multiple bank accounts and acquiring properties in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi States to disguise the origins of funds believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged offences span from 2015 to 2025, covering Malami’s eight-year tenure as Attorney-General during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
One of the charges accuses Malami and his son of instructing Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025 to conceal more than N1 billion in a Sterling Bank account, with knowledge that the funds were illicitly obtained.
The court has issued an interim forfeiture order on 57 properties linked to the case, pending final determination. Malami has denied all allegations and was granted bail in the sum of N500 million. The matter has been adjourned until February 17, 2026, for the commencement of trial.