JUST IN: EFCC seizes Malami’s Abuja home amid political firestorm

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday moved to take control of the Abuja residence of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), sparking widespread reactions from political leaders and observers.

The heavily armed team, reportedly led by Folarin Dare, arrived in about five buses, barricading the road leading to Malami’s property at No. 2 Koranakh Close, Maitama, preventing access to the house. According to the EFCC, the action was carried out pursuant to a court-issued interim forfeiture order.

Speaking on the development, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale insisted that the marking of the property was a routine law enforcement procedure. “There is nothing illegal in this matter. Once a forfeiture order is issued, the agency has the right to mark or attach the property to caution the public,” he said, adding that the EFCC did not conduct a raid but merely enforced the court order.

The move follows a viral video of Malami confronting EFCC operatives, questioning the legality of their actions and demanding to see the specific court order authorizing the marking of his property. Malami argued that the order was not clear and accused the commission of attempting to embarrass him.

The EFCC’s action relates to a January 2026 Federal High Court ruling ordering the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and Abiru Rahman Malami. The court had also directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper, allowing interested parties 14 days to contest the forfeiture. Malami has since challenged the order in court.

The incident has further escalated political tensions in Abuja. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar visited Malami on Tuesday, describing the EFCC action as part of a broader campaign of intimidation against opposition figures. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Atiku said, “No one should be detained simply because they do not share the same political ideology with the government of the day,” calling on authorities to respect democratic principles.

Atiku also linked the incident to the detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that the government is weaponizing state institutions to silence dissent. He accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of undermining democracy and attempting to coerce opposition leaders into aligning with the ruling APC.

Malami, who served as AGF from 2015 to 2023 under the Buhari administration, defected to the African Democratic Congress on 2 July 2025. Analysts suggest his high-profile opposition stance may have contributed to the scrutiny and legal actions targeting his assets.

In addition to the forfeiture proceedings, Malami, his wife, and son have faced money laundering charges amounting to N8.7 billion, which remain ongoing in the courts.

The EFCC maintained that its operations are fully legal and in compliance with due process, emphasizing that marking or attaching property under a forfeiture order is standard procedure. However, political figures, including Atiku, have framed the move as a politically motivated attack, highlighting concerns over the independence of law enforcement agencies and the protection of opposition voices in Nigeria.