The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, March 23, marked a property in Abuja linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, following an interim forfeiture order issued by the federal high court in Abuja.
The anti-graft agency said the action was in line with standard law enforcement procedures and aimed at notifying the public of the property’s legal status.
The EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, stated that the action was carried out after obtaining a valid court order authorising interim forfeiture.
“There is nothing illegal in the matter.
“The attachment or marking of property that is on a forfeiture order is a normal law enforcement action when the court has granted an interim forfeiture,” he said.
According to him, the exercise does not amount to a raid but is a routine step taken to indicate that a property is under forfeiture proceedings, whether interim or final.
“What I mean by attachment of property is the normal marking of the property to caution members of the public that the property so marked is a forfeited property, whether in interim or final forfeiture
“When there is a forfeiture order by the court, the enforcement agency can go ahead and make markings,” he added.
The clarification follows a viral video of a heated confrontation between the former AGF and EFCC operatives at the property.
In the footage, Malami is seen challenging the legality of the exercise and demanding to see a specific court order authorising the marking of his residence.
He argued that the document presented by the operatives lacked specificity and failed to mention his property directly.
Malami further accused the commission of attempting to embarrass him, insisting that the issue would be resolved through legal means.
Justice Emeka Nwite had ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami, spread across Abuja, Kebbi, Kano, and Kaduna states, on January 6th, following allegations of unlawful activities.
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