The action followed earlier court proceedings in which a Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim forfeiture order on about 57 properties allegedly connected to Malami and his associates, pending the determination of a substantive case.
EFCC officials reportedly marked and asserted control over the Abuja residence, with security operatives deployed during the exercise. The development sparked resistance, as Malami challenged the action and demanded to see a valid court order authorizing the takeover.
In response, Malami’s camp insisted that the anti-graft agency acted unlawfully, arguing that the earlier interim forfeiture order had expired and could no longer justify the EFCC’s actions. They maintained that no subsisting court directive was presented at the time of the operation.
The former minister also alleged that the matter remains before the court and accused the EFCC of disregarding due process by proceeding with the takeover without judicial backing.
Meanwhile, the EFCC maintains that the properties are linked to ongoing investigations involving allegations of money laundering and other financial crimes. The agency has been pursuing forfeiture of assets suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The legal tussle is expected to continue in court as both parties stand by their positions on the legitimacy of the forfeiture and the actions taken by the anti-graft agency.
