Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, on Tuesday confirmed that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have forcefully evicted him and his family from their Abuja residence, despite ongoing court proceedings over the property.
Addressing journalists at a press conference, Malami stated that EFCC officials stormed the premises on Monday and returned on Tuesday with armed personnel to complete the takeover.
Malami said: “Yesterday, without further recourse to the court, without seeking an order to seal my properties, without seeking an order to evict my family members and me from the property, without seeking a court order for the appointment of a receiver manager, the EFCC came to effect a forceful eviction.
“They were unable to conclude the process yesterday and reinforced this morning with a lot of personnel that are armed and indeed forcefully took over possession of my family residence.
“It is only natural, logical and judicial that no party is expected to overreach by taking unilateral steps that would place a court in a situation of purposelessness.
“Execution of court orders and processes is an exclusive function of court bailiffs and sheriffs… and is not in any way the prerogative of a party to the litigation.
“What happened by way of forceful eviction of my family members and forceful takeover of my properties is legally and judicially unprecedented in the Nigerian legal system.
“The fact that these things happen at a time when I was receiving tremendous goodwill messages… can certainly be a basis for people to insinuate perhaps political persecution.
“For me, the steps are legal, legitimate and judicial, and we will certainly embark on the judicial process to do the needful,”
The former AGF identified the property as his family home located at No. 2, Koronakh Close, off Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja.
He explained that the action followed an interim forfeiture order granted on January 6, 2026, but insisted that the order did not authorise eviction or immediate takeover of the property.
“The most interesting part of the order was that there was no clear directive or instruction… that the premises would be taken over forthwith or perhaps is being sold, or perhaps evicting the occupants,” he said.