By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Former Attorney General of the Federation AGF and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of illegal and unconstitutional invasion and occupation of both his residence and office.
The Source reports that operatives of the EFCC on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, moved to take over Malami’s Maitama Abuja residence and office premises.
The operatives, heavily armed, led by Folarin Dare arrived at the affected properties in about three buses.
They barricaded the road leading to the affected street – Koranakh Close, off Amazon Street in Maitama District Abuja.
The EFCC had earlier on Monday March 23, 2026, sealed the two properties, said to be part of about 57 choice properties which the Court had earlier granted their interim forfeiture, and are also said to be linked to Malami, his wife and son Abdulaziz.
In a statement from Mohammed Doka, his media aide, the former AGF/Minister of Justice under late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, described the action of the EFCC as utterly condemnable and a total disregard for the rule of law.
According to Malami, the action of the EFCC’ in taking over his residence, citing an already expired court order, is a deliberate attempt to harass , intimidate ,and embarrass him, based on his dissenting political persuasion.
“This is nothing short of a flagrant disregard for the rule of law; a gross abuse of power, and a dangerous precedent in a constitutional democracy.
“It represents a calculated attempt to harass, intimidate, and embarrass me , evidently on account of my political affiliations”, Malami stated.
Giving an insight into what transpired, the former AGF said EFCC officials, accompanied by several security operatives forcefully invaded his Abuja residence and office, and took over the properties.
This is as he alleged that the properties were earlier marked without the presentation of valid court order authorizing the action.
Malami also alleged that in the course of the execution of the illegal action on his properties, two people were arrested and taken into custody by the EFCC.
The former Justice Minister emphasized that the action of the anti-graft agency raises serious questions and concern about the intent, timing and underlying undertones of the operation.
According to him, the case instituted against him in relation to the said properties is ongoing at a Federal High Court Abuja, presided over by Honourable Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026) and, therefore, wondered where the EFCC is drawing its authority from.
“The Honourable Court has not made any final determination on the issues in dispute ,and no order authorizing the invasion and marking of the premises was argued and granted.
“The ex-parte order granted on January 6, 2026, was expressly time-bound for a period of 14 days which had already elapsed.
“That order has since lapsed, and cannot, under any stretch of the law, justify the EFCC”s action today.
Malami alleged that at the time of the execution of their action, the EFCC’ officials could not tender a valid court order to justify their operation.
“They failed, refused and/or neglected to produce any such order, underscoring the illegality of their conduct”, the former AGF noted.
However, the anti-graft Commission has insisted that its action is pursuant to an existing court order authorizing the forfeiture of the said properties.
In a statement from its spokesperson Dele Oyewale ,the EFCC noted that the action is in tandem with standard law enforcement procedures ,and primarily aimed at formally notifying the public of the status of the said properties.
“There is nothing illegal about the matter. The attachment, or marking of property that is on forfeiture order is a normal law enforcement action when the court has granted an interim forfeiture.
“The Commission did not raid the property. We are not involved in any of such action; so there is nothing illegal about what we have done”, Oyewale insisted.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Haba! Rule of which law is Malami, the law abuser-in-chief, complaining about? Let him have a delicious taste of the meal his kind has prepared for Nigeria. What goes round, …..