Some prominent politicians in the country have accused President Bola Tinubu of selective fight against corruption.
Their position comes following the arrest of former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who was detained by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last Monday.
The EFCC detained Tambuwal for questioning over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals to the tune of ₦189 billion.
Investigators allege that during his time as governor, he breached the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, by making massive cash withdrawals.
Several individuals and groups have condemned the arrest.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) both described it as politically-motivated.
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, accused the Tinubu administration of using the EFCC to harass and intimidate the opposition, while former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi faulted the arrest, saying Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight must be fair and transparent. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) also criticised the move, calling it a partisan tactic that undermines public trust.
According to Daily Post, northern activist and commentator, Mahdi Shehu, said Tambuwal’s is an evidence that the EFCC is dancing naked and accused the anti-graft agency of political bias.
“If it’s not political, why arrest him now when the likes of Godswill Akpabio, Bello Matawalle, Aliyu Wamakko, and some serving ministers under criminal trials, and over 43 percent of National Assembly members facing fraud charges are being shielded by the EFCC?”
He alleged that the agency only targets politicians from other parties while protecting those in the APC or planning to join it.
Shehu pointed to several high-profile corruption cases where the EFCC allegedly looked away.
He cited the Senate Public Accounts Committee’s revelation that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) could not account for ₦210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.
“In this case, EFCC pretended and went into siesta because NNPCL is a no-go area. The President is always the senior petroleum minister,” Shehu said.
He also mentioned the missing $7 billion (₦10.4 trillion) meant for the turnaround maintenance of Kaduna, Warri, and Port Harcourt refineries, and payments of “fraudulent millions per month” to consultants at the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The EFCC placed cotton wool in both ears because those involved have powerful backers in the kitchen,” he alleged.
Shehu further questioned why the EFCC has not investigated Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, who recently flaunted a multi-billion naira mansion online.
“Before Tinubu appointed him, he was surviving from hand to mouth. Now he has built what people call Government House No. 2. But EFCC will never have the liver, guts, courage, or audacity to touch him,” he said.
