The Office of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of carrying out coordinated raids on its offices and Malami’s private residences in Abuja and Kebbi State.
The statement was signed by Mohammed Doka, Special Assistant on Media to Malami on Wednesday.
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The office said the raids occurred shortly after it released a public statement referencing Chapter 9 of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report, which it claims indicts the current EFCC chairman.
According to the statement, EFCC operatives conducted the searches without prior notice and allegedly targeted documents connected to Chapter 9 of the Salami Report.
The office described the development as “deeply alarming,” alleging that the raids were acts of intimidation and retaliation following its call for the EFCC chairman to recuse himself over alleged bias linked to the report.
“Our safety and that of Abubakar Malami, SAN, are now under threat,” the statement said, adding that Nigerians and the international community should take note of what it described as a “pattern of conduct.”
The office further warned that any harm to its personnel or to Malami would be attributable to the raids.
Raising questions over the EFCC’s actions, the statement asked why the raids occurred immediately after public reference to Chapter 9, what authority justified searches focused on the report, and why force and secrecy were allegedly employed instead of due process.
The office also called on 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 Salami Report, particularly Chapter 9, in the interest of transparency and accountability.
It stressed that Malami remains willing to submit himself to what it described as a neutral and lawful process before a court of competent jurisdiction, insisting that raids and media publicity cannot replace due process.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official response to the allegations.
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