The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raided properties linked to the embattled former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Monday, taking over his residences and offices.
The operation, which took place shortly after a visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to Malami’s residence, is being described as unlawful and politically driven by Malami’s camp.
In a statement, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami’s spokesman, accused the anti-graft agency of acting without legal backing and in disregard of an ongoing court process.
“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.
He said EFCC operatives, accompanied by heavily armed security operatives, forcefully entered the properties, marked them, and took control without presenting any court order authorising such action, while two individuals were taken into custody 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 same without presenting any valid or subsisting court order authorizing such actions. Two people were taken to forceful custody in the course of the said invasion,” he alleged.
The office said 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 commission 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 claimed that EFCC operatives failed to present any lawful authorisation when asked during the operation.
“At the time of the invasion, EFCC operatives were requested to produce a lawful court order authorising 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 insisting that Malami supports accountability, the statement warned against what it described as overreach by state institutions.
“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.
Meanwhile, former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has raised the alarm that President Bola Tinubu is actively dismantling democracy and pushing the country toward full-blown authoritarian rule, which, he said, portends dangerous implications for the entire West African sub-region.
Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress was reacting to what he described as a state-sponsored siege by the Department of State Services on the residence and businesses of Abubakar Malami.
Atiku in a statement by his media office described the action as lawless, vindictive, and politically motivated.
He said: “This is not governance. This is intimidation. This is a regime weaponizing state power to silence dissent.”
The former vice president warned that Nigeria is witnessing the rapid erosion of democratic norms under Tinubu, with state institutions now reduced to tools of political persecution.
