Breaking: EFCC Storms Malami’s Homes, Offices in Midnight-Style Raids After Salami Report—Ex-AGF Cries Intimidation and Threat to Life
By Passman Akpos
The Office of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of carrying out coordinated raids on his offices and private residences shortly after his camp issued a statement referencing Chapter 9 of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report.
In a press release signed by Mohammed Bello Doka, Special Assistant on Media to Malami, the office disclosed that EFCC operatives stormed Malami’s offices as well as his private residences in Abuja and Kebbi State without prior notice. According to the statement, the raids were allegedly targeted at retrieving documents said to be linked to Chapter 9 of the Salami Report.
The development, the office said, is deeply troubling and raises serious concerns about intimidation, retaliation and abuse of process, especially coming immediately after a public call for the recusal of the current EFCC Chairman over alleged bias linked to findings in Chapter 9 of the report.
“Our safety and that of Abubakar Malami, SAN, are now under threat,” the statement warned, adding that Nigerians and the international community should take note of what it described as a dangerous pattern of conduct.
The office further stated that any harm to Malami or members of his staff would be held solely attributable to the actions allegedly taken by the anti-graft agency.
Raising a series of questions, the Malami camp challenged the timing and legality of the raids, asking why they occurred immediately after public reference to Chapter 9, what authority justified searches focused on that section of the report, and why force and secrecy were employed instead of due process if the investigation was impartial.
The statement also questioned why Chapter 9 of the Salami Report has remained contentious years after the submission of the report to the Federal Government.
In a call to action, the office urged civil society organisations, professional bodies and human rights groups to pressure the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to release the full Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report, particularly Chapter 9, in the interest of transparency, accountability and public confidence.
Reaffirming Malami’s stance, the office said the former Attorney-General remains willing to submit himself to a neutral, lawful process before a court of competent jurisdiction, stressing that intimidation, raids and media trials cannot replace due process.
The statement concluded by hinting that further details would be made public in subsequent reports.
