By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has reacted to Wednesday’s raids by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on his offices and residences in Abuja and Kebbi State.
In a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, Malami described the action as troubling, questioning its motive and legality.
He alleged that the raids followed his public reference to Chapter 9 of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report and claimed EFCC operatives were seeking to seize that section of the document.
Malami accused EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, of bias and demanded his recusal from matters concerning him, describing the raids as intimidation and retaliation.
He also warned that the operation had compromised the safety of Malami and his staff.
The former AGF challenged the EFCC to clarify the legal basis for the searches and why due process was allegedly not followed.
He further called on civil society groups and professional bodies to press the Federal Government to release the full Justice Ayo Salami panel report, particularly Chapter 9, in the interest of transparency and accountability.
Malami said he was willing to submit himself to a lawful and impartial judicial process, insisting that raids and media trials could not replace due process.
The Justice Ayo Salami panel was set up in 2021 to probe allegations of corruption and abuse of office within the EFCC during the tenure of former chairman Ibrahim Magu.
Its report, submitted in November 2021, has largely remained unpublished.
As of press time, the EFCC had not issued an official response to the claims.