By John Umeh
Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has confirmed that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission removed him and his family from their residence in Abuja, despite an ongoing legal battle over the property.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, Malami said officials of the anti-graft agency arrived at his home on Monday to enforce an interim forfeiture order and returned the following day with additional armed personnel to complete the takeover.
According to him, the officers acted without obtaining a specific court directive authorising eviction or immediate possession of the property. He maintained that the enforcement went beyond what was granted in the interim forfeiture ruling.
The former minister identified the residence as his family home located in the upscale Maitama district of Abuja. He argued that while a court had issued a temporary forfeiture order on January 6, 2026, the ruling did not mandate his removal or grant the EFCC authority to assume control of the property.
Malami disclosed that he had already challenged the forfeiture order before the Federal High Court, with the matter adjourned until April 20, 2026. He added that since the case was still pending, the EFCC should have refrained from taking further enforcement actions.
He criticised the commission for allegedly bypassing established legal procedures, noting that enforcement of court decisions is typically carried out by court bailiffs rather than parties involved in the dispute.
Describing the development as unusual, Malami said the manner in which his family was removed and the property taken over was inconsistent with standard judicial practice. He also claimed that no court officials were present during the operation.
The former AGF further hinted that the incident could be politically motivated, pointing out that it occurred shortly after his release from detention and during a period when he was receiving visits and expressions of support from political allies. However, he stopped short of directly accusing anyone, citing the pending court proceedings.
Malami stated that he would challenge the action through legal means and seek redress in court.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that EFCC operatives arrived at the residence in multiple vehicles and blocked access to the area while carrying out the operation. Efforts to reach his legal representative, J.B. Daudu, for comments on the next legal steps were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
