Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s detention of former Sokoto State Governor and current Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal over allegations of fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to ₦189 billion during his tenure from 2015 to 2023.
Atiku has accused Tinubu of witch hunting members of the Coalition party which he said is a great danger to Nigeria’s democracy.
Atiku, a key figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stated, “The only reason the EFCC has detained the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is because he is a member of the opposition Coalition. It is a continuation of the Tinubu-led administration’s agenda to harass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition.”
He accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of weaponizing the EFCC, saying, “The reality unfolding before us today is that the Tinubu administration… has objectified the fight against corruption as a political tool to coerce opposition leaders into the ruling party.”
Atiku, who played a role in establishing the EFCC, expressed dismay: “Certainly, that is not the objective for which I worked hard during our administration to create the EFCC.” He warned that “anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations,” adding, “as soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Tinubu, their ‘sins’ are forgiven.”
The ADC echoed Atiku’s sentiments, labeling the detention a “politically motivated witch-hunt.” Tambuwal remains in custody as the EFCC probes alleged violations of the Money Laundering Act.
The agency has yet to issue an official statement, but the case has intensified debates over the impartiality of Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.