Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the arrest of former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that the anti-graft agency has become a political weapon under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Tambuwal was recently detained by the EFCC over allegations of fraudulent withdrawals amounting to N189 billion during his tenure as governor.
Reacting to the development, Atiku, in a statement shared on his verified Facebook page, claimed the arrest was politically motivated and targeted at opposition leaders.
“The only reason the EFCC has detained the former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, is because he is a member of the opposition coalition,” Atiku said.
“It is a continuation of the Tinubu-led administration’s agenda to harass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition.”
He further accused the Tinubu government of weaponizing anti-corruption agencies to pressure political rivals into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The fight against corruption has been reduced to a political tool used to coerce opposition leaders,” he added. “This is far from the original objective for which the EFCC was established an institution I helped build during our time in office.”
Atiku expressed concern over what he described as a disturbing pattern of using state institutions to target dissenting voices, warning that such actions undermine democracy and the rule of law.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has also condemned Tambuwal’s arrest, echoing Atiku’s concerns and calling for the EFCC to operate independently, free from political influence.
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