Former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has been granted release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after undergoing several hours of questioning at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
Tambuwal, who governed Sokoto State between 2015 and 2023 and is a close political ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, arrived at the EFCC premises at approximately 11:30 a.m. Sources say he was taken into custody upon arrival and later interrogated by investigators.
Insiders within the EFCC disclosed that the questioning revolved around alleged illegal cash withdrawals amounting to a staggering ₦189 billion, reportedly carried out during his two-term tenure as governor. The transactions in question are suspected to breach multiple provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
While details of the alleged withdrawals remain sketchy, investigators are said to be focusing on whether the funds were siphoned through state accounts under the guise of official expenditure. According to anti-corruption officials, such large cash movements could suggest possible diversion of public resources, round-tripping, or misappropriation.
Tambuwal, who also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives before becoming governor, has not publicly commented on the allegations. However, political analysts note that the development could carry significant political implications given his stature within the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and his recent role as a key supporter of Atiku Abubakar’s coalition party
The EFCC has not confirmed whether Tambuwal will face formal charges, but sources indicate that the former governor may be invited again as the investigation progresses.
This latest interrogation adds to the growing list of former state governors being probed by the EFCC for alleged large-scale financial mismanagement, a trend the Commission says is part of its renewed crackdown on corruption in public office.
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