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
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the arrest and detention of former Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Atiku accused the Tinubu-led government of weaponising the fight against corruption to target political opponents. He alleged that the ongoing detention of Tambuwal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was not about genuine anti-graft efforts, but part of a wider plan to harass, intimidate, and weaken the opposition.
IREPORT247NEWS reports that Senator Tambuwal is currently being grilled at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja over allegations linked to a staggering ₦189 billion financial scandal. Sources within the anti-corruption agency claim that the massive withdrawals, allegedly carried out in cash during Tambuwal’s tenure as governor, contravened the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The law explicitly forbids such large-scale cash transactions in a bid to curb illicit financial practices.
Reports indicate that Tambuwal arrived at the EFCC complex around 11:30 a.m. on Monday and has since faced hours of intense interrogation, as investigators seek to uncover the full extent of the alleged violations.
Reacting to the development, Atiku said: “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. This is part of the Tinubu administration’s agenda to harass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition.”
He further alleged that the fight against corruption has been turned into a political weapon to coerce opposition leaders into defecting to the ruling party.
“We are witnessing a disturbing trend where state institutions are being used as tools of political bullying. The EFCC, which I worked tirelessly to establish during our administration to fight corruption objectively, is now being misused to serve partisan interests.
Anyone aligned with the opposition is suddenly accused of phantom corruption charges, but the moment they cross over to the ruling party, their so-called offences are immediately forgotten. This is not how to build strong institutions. This is not how to combat corruption. In fact, such practices only encourage corruption to thrive,” Atiku said.
He also accused the EFCC of being used to pressure and “empty” opposition-controlled states into the ruling party’s fold, warning that such actions could pave the way for a one-party dictatorship in Nigeria.
“The genuine fight against corruption deserves the support of all Nigerians. However, turning it into a political weapon must be condemned by civil society and the international community. We have seen in recent times how anti-graft agencies are deployed to coerce political leaders into joining the ruling party. Let it be known: we will never yield to these anti-democratic schemes aimed at railroading our nation into one-party rule,” Atiku declared.