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EFCC marks Malami’s Abuja property for forfeiture

Published

6 months ago

March 24, 2026

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has marked an Abuja property linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), saying the action followed a valid interim forfeiture order granted by a court.

The commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, stated this in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, noting that the action was a normal law enforcement procedure.

Oyewale said the marking of the property was meant to notify members of the public about its status following a forfeiture order.

The statement followed a viral video of altercations between the former minister and operatives of the EFCC, which generated reactions online.

“There is nothing illegal in the matter. The attachment or marking of property that is on a forfeiture order is a normal law enforcement action when the court has granted an interim forfeiture,” Oyewale said.

He explained that once a forfeiture order is issued, the agency has the right to attach or mark the property to caution the public.

“What I mean by attachment of property is the normal marking of the property to caution members of the public that the property so marked is a forfeited property, whether in interim or final forfeiture.

“So when there is a forfeiture order by the court, the enforcement agency can go ahead and make markings,” he added.

The EFCC spokesman also dismissed claims that operatives raided the property, insisting that the commission only carried out enforcement of a court order.

“The commission did not go there to raid anywhere. We are not involved in any such act. So there is nothing illegal about what we have done,” Oyewale said.

In a two-minute video obtained by our correspondent, which earlier went viral, Malami was seen questioning the operatives over the legality of the action and demanding to see the court order authorising the marking of his house.

The former minister argued that the order presented was not specific to his property and claimed the matter was still pending in court.

He accused the commission of attempting to embarrass him, saying, “Where is your court order? The order here is not specific. It didn’t give you a clear directive to come and mark my property… You want to move nationwide to embarrass me? Go ahead, we will meet in court.”

An EFCC operative in the video maintained that once a property is under forfeiture, the commission has the right to mark it.

The development came a few hours after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led a delegation on a solidarity visit to Malami.

Atiku, who recently returned from Umrah in Saudi Arabia, also called on authorities to release former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and other detainees.

He said no one should be held for holding a different political ideology from the government.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, he said, “Following my return to the country on Saturday night from Umrah (lesser Hajj), I led a delegation on a solidarity visit to the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

“I wish to serve notice to the authorities detaining former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, @elrufai, and all other political detainees to release them henceforth.

“No one should be detained simply because they do not share the same ideology or political platform with the government of the day. -AA”

Speaking on the clampdown on Malami’s properties, Atiku declared it as clear evidence of alleged state-sponsored intimidation and abuse of power by the President Bola Tinubu administration.

In a statement through his media office on Monday, Atiku alleged that Tinubu was actively dismantling democracy and pushing Nigeria toward full-blown authoritarian rule, with dangerous implications for the entire West African subregion.

Atiku characterised the action by the EFCC as unlawful, driven by vendetta, and politically motivated.

“This is not governance. This is intimidation. This is a regime weaponising state power to silence dissent,” Atiku declared.

He claimed that under Tinubu, Nigeria was undergoing a rapid deterioration of democratic norms, with state institutions increasingly deployed as tools for political persecution.

“What we are seeing is the naked abuse of power—security agencies deployed not for national security, but for settling political scores. This is how democracies die.

“Let it be said clearly: this government is terrified of competition. That is why it is resorting to brute force—harassing, intimidating, and attempting to break opposition leaders into submission,” he stated.

He further alleged that the sustained targeting of figures like El-Rufai and Malami is part of a broader strategy to coerce them into abandoning opposition politics and falling in line with the ruling APC.

“This is political extortion at the highest level—join us or be destroyed. That is the message being sent,” he said.

The statement continued, “When opposition is criminalised, and dissent is punished, elections become a mere formality. If Tinubu wants to run unopposed, then let INEC stop wasting public funds on a sham election.

“We have seen this script before. It ended in national disgrace. What is happening now is a dangerous replay—one that Nigerians must resist.

“Governors and political leaders are being railroaded into the APC under threat of persecution. This is not politics—it is state capture.”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 also directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national daily, inviting any individual or organisation with an interest in the assets to appear before it within 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

In February, Malami filed an application challenging the interim forfeiture of the properties linked to him.

The EFCC had also arraigned Malami, his wife and son over allegations bordering on money laundering amounting to N8,713,923,759.49.

On July 2, 2025, Malami announced his defection to the African Democratic Congress.

He was appointed as AGF in 2015 by the late President Muhammadu Buhari and was in the administration until its end in 2023.

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New financial markets facility set to open in Abia

Published

12 hours ago

September 16, 2026

Top News Nigeria

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A forex trading facility is expected to open in Abia State in October, following the 2025 Abia Forex Expo, which organisers said attracted more than 1,500 participants.

The facility is being established by entrepreneur and financial markets personality, Sam Keys, as a platform for financial education, market analysis, trading activities and networking.

According to the organisers, the project followed increased interest in forex trading and other financial market activities among youths and business communities in the state.

The proposed facility will provide a physical location where traders, aspiring investors and other participants can access financial market information, take part in educational activities and interact with others in the sector.

Keys had previously organised the 2025 Abia Forex Expo, which brought together participants interested in forex trading, investment and financial markets.

The new facility is expected to complement such events by providing a permanent location for activities relating to financial market education and trading.

The October opening is expected to attract traders, investors and other individuals interested in learning about the financial markets.

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Abia debunks N50,000 akara tax claim

Published

13 hours ago

September 15, 2026

Top News Nigeria

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Abia State Government has debunked reports that akara sellers and other petty traders in the state are being compelled to pay N50,000 as tax, describing the claim as misinformation.

The government also said it had approved the designation of some historical and natural sites as State Monuments and State Natural Monuments, while declaring Aba a Creative and Innovative City.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said the historical sites approved as State Monuments include the National War Museum, Umuahia; Ojukwu Bunker, Umuahia; and Government College, Umuahia.

Those designated State Natural Monuments are Ibom Waterfall in Arochukwu and Ulochukwu Cave in Alayi, Bende Local Government Area.

According to him, the designations would strengthen the government’s efforts to preserve the state’s cultural and natural heritage, promote tourism and open up new economic opportunities.

“These sites have been elevated to heritage sites that enhance the state’s tourism potential. With this approval, they are primed to attract recognition as UNESCO Heritage Sites,” Kanu said.

He further disclosed that Aba had been designated a Creative and Innovative City in recognition of its longstanding commercial, industrial and creative significance.

The commissioner said the retrofitting of the Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum had reached about 80 per cent completion and was expected to be concluded before the end of 2026.

He said the projects would improve the preservation of the sites, enhance visitors’ experience and strengthen their tourism potential.

Kanu also disclosed that the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy had received approval to develop the Ibom Waterfall Tourism Corridor in Arochukwu.

He said work had commenced, including grading of access roads to the waterfall, with completion expected before the end of the year.

The commissioner added that the state government had commenced the erection of monuments at strategic locations to preserve Abia’s heritage, honour its heroes and heroines and promote the state’s cultural identity.

He cited a monument being dedicated to the heroines of the 1929 Aba Women’s Riot as one of such initiatives, saying it would celebrate their courage, resilience, resistance and leadership.

No N50,000 tax on akara sellers
On the controversy over alleged excessive taxation, Kanu said there had been no fresh increase in tax rates by the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, noting that most of the rates being circulated were contained in tax laws enacted in 2020 under the previous administration.

He stressed that the Board could not unilaterally increase tax rates without enabling legislation.

“For starters, these rates are not new. Most of the rates are 2020 tax rates that were introduced by the previous government.

“Let me reiterate that the Board of Internal Revenue cannot raise tax rates without the backing of enabling laws. And no such increases have been introduced by the Abia State Government,” he said.

Kanu explained that demand notices issued by the BIR were provided for under the law, urging taxpayers to comply with relevant tax provisions while assuring that legitimate concerns would be addressed by the appropriate officials.

On the specific claim that akara sellers were being made to pay N50,000, he said: “This is pure fallacy. Nothing can be further from the truth. Akara sellers don’t pay tax or levies. They pay daily tolls. And none can pay N50,000.”

The Chairman of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Uche Elekwachi, corroborated the clarification, saying there was no revenue window under the state’s tax laws requiring akara sellers to pay such an amount.

Elekwachi said the Abia Internally Generated Revenue Service Law establishing the applicable framework was enacted in 2020, before the present administration came into office.

“This whole thing has always been in existence. The Abia Internally Generated Revenue Service Law was enacted in 2020 long before this government came onboard, so we need to make that clarification,” he said.

Gratuity: 2011–2025 retirees next.

On outstanding gratuities owed retired workers, Kanu disclosed that the government had completed payments covering 2001 to 2010 and was preparing for the next batch covering 2011 to 2025.

He said the next payments would commence after the completion of ongoing internal verification and other necessary processes.

The commissioner dismissed claims that the government had only commenced gratuity payments because of pressure from the opposition, explaining that the huge financial commitment involved made payment in batches necessary.

“The payments will be in batches. The funds involved are huge for one balloon payment,” he said.

Kanu also clarified reports suggesting that gratuity payments would continue only until 2031, explaining that such reports are incorrect.

He explained that the State Gratuity Committee had recommended the inclusion of gratuity provisions in the state’s 2026–2031 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and subsequent annual budgets to ensure that gratuity obligations were systematically provided for and prevent the accumulation of fresh arrears.

“That does not translate to payments being terminated in 2031. As the internal processes and verification of beneficiaries of these payments continue, due payments would still be made in batches,” he said.

He added that the government remained committed to clearing the outstanding liabilities and expressed optimism that the process could be completed earlier than anticipated.

“The conclusion of payment of outstanding gratuities may happen earlier than we ever imagined. Let us therefore wait and see how the next batch of payments will unfold,” Kanu said.

The Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr Matthew Ekwuribe, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, Dr Emmanuel Okpechi, were also present at the briefing.

Source: Vanguard.

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‘I have no objection’ – Obi urges UNN to release his academic records

Published

13 hours ago

September 15, 2026

Top News Nigeria

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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Peter Obi has said he has no objection to the release of his academic records amid reports of a legal action seeking certified true copies of his certificates and other educational documents.

Obi stated this in a statement posted on X on Tuesday, saying he had given consent for the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to make available his academic records and other official documents relating to his admission and studies, subject to applicable laws.

His statement followed reports circulating on social media concerning a legal action by an individual or group seeking certified true copies of his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and other academic credentials relating to his admission into the university.

He wrote, “I wish to state clearly that I have absolutely no objection to the release of these records.

“I respectfully request that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, within the limits permitted by law, make available, upon legitimate request, my academic certificates, records, and other official documents relating to my admission and studies at the University. I equally have no objection to other educational institutions, within and outside Nigeria, which I attended, making my academic records available in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.”

Obi said he believed strongly in transparency and accountability, particularly for individuals seeking public office, but stressed that public scrutiny should be fair, lawful and consistently applied to all presidential candidates.

“As a presidential candidate seeking the trust of Nigerians to lead our country, I welcome legitimate public interest in my background, qualifications, and record. I am prepared to subject myself to the level of scrutiny that should reasonably be expected of anyone seeking the highest office in our country,” he said.

Obi said candidates seeking the nation’s highest office should be willing to subject themselves to reasonable scrutiny and demonstrate that they had nothing to conceal from the people they sought to serve.

He subsequently challenged other presidential candidates to make their educational qualifications and relevant records available for public scrutiny.

“Doing so should not be regarded as an inconvenience or an attack. Rather, it is an opportunity to strengthen public confidence, promote accountability, and rebuild the trust of Nigerians in those who seek to govern them,” he said

Obi added that transparency, integrity and accountability should begin with those seeking to lead the country.

“I therefore welcome the scrutiny of my academic background and remain committed to the principle that those who ask Nigerians for their trust must also be willing to earn that trust through openness and accountability,” he added.