Di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) don move to mark and seal some Abuja properties wey dem dey link to former Attorney-General of di Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN). Di anti-graft agency say dem get valid interim forfeiture order from court for di action, but Malami don dey argue say di order no specific and di matter still dey for court.
According to EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, di marking of di property na normal law enforcement procedure wey dem dey do when court don grant interim forfeiture. Oyewale explain say once forfeiture order dey, di agency get right to mark di property to caution members of di public. “Di attachment or marking of property wey dey on forfeiture order na normal law enforcement action when di court don grant interim forfeiture,” Oyewale talk for interview.
Di action come after viral video wey show altercation between Malami and EFCC operatives for Monday. For di video, Malami dey question di operatives over legality of di action and dey demand to see di court order wey authorize di marking of im house. Di former minister argue say di order wey dem present no specific to im property and claim say di matter still dey pending for court.
“Where your court order dey? Di order here no specific. E no give una clear directive to come mark my property… Una wan move nationwide to embarrass me? Go ahead, we go meet for court,” Malami talk for di video. But one EFCC operative for di video maintain say once property dey under forfeiture, di commission get right to mark am.
For Channels TV Politics Today program on Monday, Malami talk say im don challenge di court order wey dey seek interim forfeiture of im properties. Im talk say EFCC personnel wey fully-kitted and fully-armed invade im multiple houses and business premises on Monday, March 23, 2026. “I find dat attitude to be very amazing in di sense dat, indeed, to my knowledge, dere was order dated 6 January, 2026 for interim forfeiture of my properties, but di implication of dat order was dat my person was given opportunity of 14 days to respond. Now di issue be say we don respond. We join di issues before di court and file application for such order to be set aside,” Malami talk.
Abuja-based lawyer, Godwin Ijunbor Esq, explain say if order no enforce within specified time, e go lapse and become invalid and any enforcement go be illegal. Im add say di defendant suppose seek relief from di court. Similarly, Chibueze Maduka Esq talk say if indeed di order don expire, e fit only be renewed, and no be enforced. “You no fit enforce expired court order because e cease to get force of law,” im talk.
Political scientist from University of Abuja, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, describe di invasion of Malami residences as politically-motivated. Im talk say di action get three implications: infringement of fundamental human rights, intolerance of opposition, and abuse of power. “I hope and pray say all di agencies of government wey dem dey use and abuse go follow constitutional means and measures,” Prof Abubakar talk.
Di EFCC maintain say dem no raid di property but only carry out enforcement of court order. Oyewale dismiss claims say operatives raid di property, insisting say di commission only carry out enforcement of court order. “Di commission no go dere to raid anywhere. We no dey involved for any such act. So nothing illegal about wetin we don do,” Oyewale talk.
Di building wey dem mark get inscription wey read: “Restrained order, EFCC, Keep off.” Di coordinated operation involve marking and sealing of premises across various upscale neighbourhoods for Abuja. Di move follow string of legal developments, including interim forfeiture order targeting portfolio of properties allegedly linked to Malami and im associates, wey dem value for hundreds of billions of naira.
As di matter dey unfold, legal experts dey watch closely to see how di court go handle di application to set aside di forfeiture order. Di case don generate significant public interest as e touch on issues of rule of law, property rights, and di powers of anti-corruption agencies for Nigeria.
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