Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
Detention sparks political backlash as Atiku accuses the Tinubu administration of targeting opposition figures.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released former Sokoto State Governor and current Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a day after detaining him over allegations of fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to N189 billion.
Tambuwal regained his freedom on Tuesday after meeting his administrative bail conditions, following an overnight stay in EFCC custody. The former governor, who also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, had honoured an invitation by the anti-graft agency on Monday, arriving at its Abuja headquarters around 11:30 a.m., where he was interrogated over the alleged financial infractions.
According to EFCC sources, the withdrawals under investigation allegedly contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. “The withdrawals were in flagrant violation of the Act,” an official said, noting that investigations are still ongoing.
Efforts to obtain official comments from EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale proved unsuccessful, as calls and messages to his phone went unanswered.
Tambuwal’s detention has drawn sharp political reactions, particularly from former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. In a post on X, Atiku described the EFCC’s action as politically motivated, alleging that it forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s broader strategy to weaken the opposition and pressure political figures into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The only reason the EFCC has detained the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is that 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,” Atiku claimed.
The EFCC has not yet issued an official statement on the next steps in its investigation into the high-profile case.
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