EFCC Seals Ex-AGF Malami’s Abuja Residence

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday stormed and sealed off the Abuja residence of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in what authorities described as enforcement of a court-ordered forfeiture process, while the ex-minister decried the action as politically motivated.

The operation, which took place at Malami’s Maitama residence in Abuja, saw heavily armed EFCC personnel arrive in multiple vehicles, barricade surrounding roads, and restrict access to the property as part of moves to assume control of the asset.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that the operatives effectively took over the premises located at No. 2 Koranakh Close, off Amazon Street, preventing entry and exit, while members of Malami’s household confirmed that the former minister was present during the operation but later vacated the property without resistance.

The development follows earlier actions by the EFCC to mark properties linked to Malami for forfeiture after securing an interim order from a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The anti-graft agency maintains that such steps are standard legal procedures once a forfeiture order has been granted.

EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, had explained that marking or attaching properties under investigation is meant to notify the public of their status and prevent transactions pending final determination by the court.

However, Malami has strongly challenged the legality and timing of the operation. Speaking after the raid, he questioned whether due process was followed and insisted that he had already filed applications contesting the interim forfeiture order in court.

He further alleged that the action was intimidating and politically driven, claiming it coincided with high-profile visits to his residence and was intended to embarrass him.

A source within his household also alleged that the operatives did not present a valid court order during the takeover, although this claim contrasts with EFCC’s insistence that its actions were backed by judicial authorisation.

The dispute is rooted in a broader investigation into alleged illicit assets linked to the former AGF.

In January 2026, a Federal High Court ordered the interim forfeiture of about 57 properties reportedly connected to Malami and his associates, directing that affected parties show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Malami has since challenged the order, setting the stage for a legal battle over the ownership and status of the properties.

The former minister is also facing separate legal challenges, including ongoing proceedings involving alleged money laundering running into billions of naira, further intensifying scrutiny around his tenure in office.