Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) have marked properties in Abuja, the nation’s capital, linked to
Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister
of justice, for forfeiture.
The marking of Malami’s alleged properties took place hours
after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar visited his residence.
The EFCC operatives, alongside armed security personnel, who
carried out the exercise on Monday morning, were challenged by the former
minister and people around him.
In a video posted on social media, Malami asked a man, who
appears to be an EFCC official, to show him the court order authorising them to
mark and take over his residence.
The official told the former AGF that the anti-graft agency
has the right to mark the property since it is under forfeiture.
Malami responded that the forfeiture order has expired and
asked the EFCC official to show him the document authorising the marking.
The inscription, “Restrained order EFCC keep off”, was
marked on one of the properties linked to Malami.
In January, a federal high court in Abuja ordered the
interim forfeiture of 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful
activities allegedly linked to Malami and two of his sons, Abdulaziz Malami and
Abiru Rahman Malami.
The court directed the EFCC to publish the interim
forfeiture order in a national daily newspaper, inviting any individual or
organisation with an interest in the assets to appear before the court within
14 days and show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be made.
In February, Malami filed an application challenging the
interim forfeiture of the properties linked to him.
RELEASE FROM CUSTODY
The former AGF is standing trial on two separate criminal
charges.
Last week, Malami was released from custody after a court
granted him bail.
On February 27, a federal high court in Abuja granted bail
to Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, in the sum of N200 million each over alleged
terrorism-related offences.
Malami and his son were arraigned on February 3 on a
five-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism financing and illegal
possession of firearms.
The Department of State Services (DSS) accused the former
minister of refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were
reportedly forwarded to the office of the attorney-general for prosecution
while he was in the office.
The EFCC had arraigned Malami, his son and wife, over
allegations bordering on money laundering to the tune of N8,713,923,759.49.
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