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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.
Pascal Arogorn Ibe
