Atiku, ADC accuses Tinubu of using EFCC against oppositions

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of turning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into a political weapon against the opposition, following the detention of former Sokoto State governor and serving senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

Recall that this newspaper earlier reported Tambuwal’s arrest on Monday over allegations of authorising illegal withdrawals exceeding ₦189 billion cash during his 2015–2023 tenure.

EFCC sources claimed that the withdrawals, spread over six years, came from three state accounts: the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) account, the Government House account, and the Secretary to the State Government account.

The senator honoured the EFCC’s invitation at its Abuja headquarters around 11:30 a.m. before being interrogated for hours.

He was expected to spend the night in custody, with about five other suspects including cashiers and government officials likely to testify against him or face trial alongside him.

Atiku in a statement, alleged that Tambuwal’s detention was part of a broader plan to “harass, intimidate, and decimate” opposition figures. He claimed the EFCC’s anti-corruption mandate had been objectified as a political instrument to coerce opposition members into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Today, anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations. As soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, their ‘sins’ are forgiven,” Atiku said.

The former vice president, who was instrumental in establishing the EFCC during his time in office, warned that such practices erode institutional integrity and create fertile ground for corruption.

Echoing Atiku’s position, the ADC accused the EFCC of behaving like a political hit squad for the APC.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, alleged that the commission had adopted a pattern of reopening closed cases and reviving years-old allegations against opposition members while quietly shelving investigations into ruling party allies.

“This is selective prosecution, and selective prosecution is the death of justice,” the ADC said, urging civil society, the media, and the public to resist what it called “a dangerous slide into dictatorship.”

The party warned that the EFCC’s credibility risked being permanently damaged if it continued operating under a cloud of political bias.

The EFCC has yet to officially comment on Tambuwal’s detention or the allegations against him.