By Achile Danjuma
Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) stormed the Abuja residence of former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami on Monday, dispersing occupants shortly after the property hosted former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Witnesses and sources said the raid occurred around 3:00 p.m., minutes after Mr. Abubakar’s departure. An aide to the former vice-president confirmed that Mr. Abubakar had spent about an hour at Mr. Malami’s home in the upscale Maitama district. According to a witness, security agents had already surrounded the premises during the visit but moved in only after the meeting concluded.
The operation comes amid heightened political tensions, with opposition figures alleging that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is orchestrating pressure campaigns against rivals ahead of next year’s election. Critics assert that the president is personally driving efforts to compel prominent opposition members, including Mr. Malami, to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mr. Malami, who served as minister of justice under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been facing a protracted corruption trial widely perceived by observers as politically motivated. He has maintained his innocence.
President Tinubu has repeatedly denied accusations of weaponizing state institutions against opponents. He has stated that his record since taking office in 2023 will be sufficient to secure his re-election.
Earlier on Monday, Mr. Abubakar shared photographs of his visit with Mr. Malami on social media but did not address the subsequent security operation.
A spokesperson for the SSS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The agency has a longstanding history of being used as an instrument of repression by successive Nigerian administrations, a pattern critics say dates back to the military regimes of the 1990s.