The Office of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has alleged that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) carried out coordinated raids on its offices and on Malami’s private residences in Abuja and Kebbi State shortly after the release of a statement referencing Chapter 9 of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report.
In a press statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media Mohammed Bello Doka said the raids were conducted without prior notice and were specifically aimed at searching for documents allegedly connected to Chapter 9 of the Salami Report, which reportedly indicts the current EFCC Chairman.
The statement described the development as “deeply alarming,” noting that it followed a public call for the EFCC Chairman to recuse himself from matters relating to the report on grounds of alleged bias. According to Malami’s aides, the timing of the operation raises concerns about intimidation, retaliation, and the personal safety of staff and of Malami himself.
“We hereby place Nigerians and the international community on notice that any harm to our personnel or to Abubakar Malami, SAN, will be solely attributable to this pattern of conduct,” the statement said.
The office urged the media and the public to question the legal basis for the raids, including why they occurred immediately after public reference to Chapter 9 of the report, what authority justified searches focused on the document, and why law enforcement action was taken rather than recourse to established due process.
It also questioned why Chapter 9 of the Salami Report remains a subject of controversy several years after the report was submitted.
Calling for broader intervention, the statement appealed to 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 public accountability.
The office reaffirmed that Malami remains willing to submit himself to a neutral and lawful process before a court of competent jurisdiction, insisting that “intimidation, raids and media trials cannot substitute for due process.”
