Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have raided the offices and private homes of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in Abuja and Kebbi State.
The action was confirmed on Wednesday by Malami’s media aide, Mohammed Doka, who described the raids as troubling and questioned their purpose and timing.
According to Doka, the searches followed public references by Malami’s office to Chapter 9 of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry report. He claimed the EFCC was seeking to seize that section of the document.
Malami’s camp accused the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, of bias and renewed calls for him to step aside from any matter involving the former justice minister.
The Justice Ayo Salami panel was set up by the Federal Government in 2021 to probe claims of corruption, abuse of office and the handling of recovered assets within the EFCC, mainly during the tenure of former chairman Ibrahim Magu. Its report was submitted to the Presidency in November 2021 but has not been fully released.
Chapter 9 has drawn attention because it is said to contain findings on the conduct of senior officials, including Malami, who supervised the EFCC during his time in office.
In recent days, Malami cited the chapter to challenge the neutrality of the current EFCC leadership and asked that Olukoyede recuse himself from any investigation involving him.
Reacting to the raids, Malami’s aides described the development as alarming and alleged it amounted to intimidation and retaliation. They said the searches raised concerns about legality and due process.
The statement also called on civil society groups and professional bodies to press the Federal Government and the Ministry of Justice to release the full Salami report, especially Chapter 9, in the interest of transparency and public trust.
Malami said he remains willing to face any lawful and impartial investigation before a court, adding that raids and media scrutiny cannot replace due process.
