The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raided properties belonging to former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami on Monday, seizing his houses and offices in what his camp describes as an illegal and politically motivated operation.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar paid a visit to Malami’s home just minutes before the operation began.
In a statement, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami’s Special Assistant on Media, accused the EFCC of acting without legal backing and disregarding a current court case.
“The Office of Abubakar Malami, SAN, wishes to formally address the shocking and unlawful actions carried out today by operatives of the EFCC at properties associated with the former Attorney General of the Federation, inclusive of his residential and business premises,” the statement said.
According to Doka, EFCC operatives, joined by heavily armed security officers, forced their way into the homes, marked them, and assumed control without providing a court order authorizing such action, and two people were arrested during the operation.
“EFCC officials, in the company of heavily armed security personnel, forcefully invaded and took over residences and offices linked to Malami, marking the same without presenting any valid or subsisting court order authorizing such actions. Two people were taken into forceful custody in the course of the said invasion,” he alleged.
The office stated that the matter remains before the court, pointing to a case filed by the EFCC at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, and stressed that no final ruling has been made.
“The case instituted by the EFCC at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division… remains ongoing. 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 statement added.
It also argued that an earlier interim forfeiture order obtained by the EFCC had expired and could not justify the action taken.
“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 actions today,” Doka said.
The statement further stated that EFCC agents failed to produce any legal authorization when requested during the operation.
“At the time of the invasion, EFCC operatives were requested to produce a lawful court order authorizing their actions. They failed, refused, and/or neglected to present any such order, underscoring the illegality of their conduct.
“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 Malami, evidently on account of his political affiliations,” he added.
While Malami emphasized his commitment to accountability, the statement cautioned against state institutions’ overreach.
“While Malami remains a firm believer in accountability and the fight against corruption, such efforts must be conducted strictly within the ambit of the law and not through executive lawlessness or institutional overreach.
“We wish to reiterate that Malami will continue to fully cooperate with lawful judicial processes and will defend his rights and reputation through appropriate legal channels,” the statement added.
