Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have sealed the homes of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) in Abuja.
The operatives in plain clothes were seen marking Malami’s houses in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, despite protests from the former AGF, who questioned the legitimacy of the documents presented by the officials.
“Show me where they said you should come and take over my property…when the matter is pending in court, can you operate extraordinarily. 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 permission to come over to my property and mark them? It is the order I want to see. Show me where it is stated that you can come over to mark my property. Prince (he turns to another EFCC official), where is the order? The order here is not specific, giving you a 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 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,” Malami said.
An EFCC operative, however, replied, “We have the right to mark property once the property is under forfeiture. This is the order; I gave you the order, sir.” Subsequently, the building was labeled: “Restrained order, EFCC, Keep off.”
In a Monday interview with Channels TV’s Politics Today, Malami explained that he had challenged the court order seeking interim forfeiture of his properties. He said, “There were personnel that were fully-kitted, fully-armed and were very intimidating and harassing my immediate family members to the effect that they came to serve letters of invitation. So, letters were eventually served not only in respect of the house where they found me but also my other multiple houses and business premises were all invaded today (Monday), being 23rd March, 2026 by personnel that claimed to have come in from the EFCC.
“I found that attitude to be very amazing in the sense that, indeed, to my knowledge, there was an order dated 6 January, 2026 for interim forfeiture of my properties, but the implication of that order was that my person was given an opportunity of 14 days to respond. Now the issue is we have responded. We joined the issues before the court and filed an application for such an order to be set aside.”
The Background
In December 2025, EFCC operatives had raided Malami’s offices and residences in Abuja and Kebbi State. Malami’s media aide, Mohammed Doka, confirmed that the raids targeted the seizure of Chapter 9 of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report cited by Malami’s office. The Commission, established in 2021, investigated corruption, abuse of office, and mismanagement of recovered assets within EFCC, particularly during former chairman Ibrahim Magu’s tenure.
The Legal Proceedings
Malami, his son Abdulaziz, his wife, and Rahamaniyya Properties Ltd staff member Asabe Bashir, had been arraigned on a 16-count charge involving the diversion of billions of naira in Kebbi, Kano, and Abuja. He recently regained freedom after spending about three months in custody on N200 million bail.
The Allegations
Between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami allegedly engaged Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd to conceal the unlawful origin of N1,014,848,500 in Sterling Bank PLC account 0079182387, and used the same company to conceal N600,013,460.4. He also allegedly used N500m as collateral for a Rahaan Hotels Ltd loan in March 2021.
The federal government further accused Malami of disguising the unlawful origin of N500m paid to Efab Properties Ltd for a luxury duplex at Amazon Street, Plot 3011, Maitama, Abuja, in November 2022. Additionally, between November 2022 and September 2024, he allegedly concealed N1,049,173,926.13 through Meethaq Hotels Ltd’s Union Bank account. Between November 2022 and October 2025, N1,362,887,872.96 was allegedly misappropriated via Meethaq Hotels Ltd, alongside N700m used for No. 3 Onitsha Crescent, Garki, Abuja.
Other alleged offences include concealment of N850,000,000 for Plot 683 Jabi District, N430m for No. 3 Rhine Street Maitama, N325m for No. 1241B Asokoro, and N120m for No. 27 Efab Estate Gwarimpa, among others. The defendants were accused of breaching sections 15(2)(a)(3) and 18(3) of the Money Laundering Act 2004.
Additional Charges
On February 3, Malami and his son were also arraigned by the DSS at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism-related offences and unlawful possession of firearms. The DSS alleged that Malami, during his tenure as chief law officer (2015–2023), knowingly abetted terrorism financing and breached Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Legal Opinion
Abuja lawyer Godwin Ijunbor Esq explained that any order not enforced within the stipulated period lapses and enforcement becomes illegal. Chibueze Maduka Esq added that expired orders cannot be enforced without renewal.
Political Implications
Political scientist Prof. Sadiq Abubakar of the University of Abuja called the raids politically motivated. “I think the action of invading Malami’s houses has three implications,” he said. “One, you look at him as an individual. It is a direct infringement of fundamental human rights as a politician, as a citizen, and as a political leader. Once upon a time, he was the Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That’s all. That’s it. It’s wrong. It’s unacceptable. It’s unconstitutional.”
He added that the raids reflect intolerance of opposition, with the government attempting to weaken dissenting voices.
“This is injurious to our political rights and liberties,” Prof. Abubakar said. He also highlighted abuse of power, warning that continued overreach could escalate before the next election.
“I hope and pray that all the agencies of government that are being used and abused should follow constitutional means and measures,” he concluded.
