Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has raised fresh concerns over what he describes as a renewed attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take possession of his Maitama home in Abuja.
Malami alleged that operatives of the anti-graft agency arrived at his residence early Tuesday morning to enforce a forfeiture order and assume control of the property.
This development comes on the heels of recent operations by security agencies targeting several of the former minister’s assets across the Federal Capital Territory.
During those earlier actions, operatives were seen storming multiple locations, including private residences and office spaces linked to Malami, marking them for seizure.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage from the previous raids showed tense moments, as Malami confronted officials at one of the locations, demanding to see valid court orders and proper authorisation for the enforcement action. He was seen questioning the legality of the operation, insisting on due process.
“Show me where they said you should come and take over my property. When the matter is pending in court, can you operate extraordinarily?”
“We have the right to mark property once the property is under forfeiture,” a plain-cloth official said.
“Is it under forfeiture when the order has elapsed? Order granted for 14 days has elapsed and you’re coming to embarrass me. Very early in the morning you were in my other house and then you’re here. Where is the order that gave you the permission to come over to my property and mark them. It is the order I want to see.”
“This is the order; I gave you the order, sir,” another operative replied.
“Show me where it is stated that you can come over to mark my property. Where is the order? The order here is not specific, giving you clear directive to come and mark my property. This matter is pending in court. Where is the order from the court that gave you permission? Are you coming here to embarrass me? Are you coming here to embarrass me unnecessarily…? Without an existing court order, when a matter is pending in court, you are coming all over my property to embarrass me. Is that the way it is done. Okay go ahead and mark. We will meet in court.”