ABUJA — The arrest of former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ignited sharp reactions across Northern Nigeria, splitting opinion between those who see it as political persecution and others who insist the law must take its course.
Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and two-term Sokoto governor, was detained on Monday after honouring an invitation at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. He is being investigated over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals totalling ₦189 billion during his tenure, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
While the EFCC insists its actions are impartial and guided strictly by law, opposition parties and some northern leaders claim the move is a targeted attack.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) both branded the arrest “politically motivated.” Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused the Tinubu administration of weaponising the EFCC to harass the opposition, while former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi argued that anti-corruption efforts must be fair and transparent. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) also condemned the arrest, calling it a partisan manoeuvre that erodes public trust.
Northern activist Mahdi Shehu was particularly scathing, accusing the EFCC of “dancing naked” and shielding high-profile figures within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while targeting opponents.
“If it’s not political, why arrest him now when the likes of Godswill Akpabio, Bello Matawalle, Aliyu Wamakko, and over 43 percent of National Assembly members with fraud cases are untouched?” Shehu asked, alleging selective justice. He also cited unresolved cases involving missing trillions at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), refinery turnaround funds, and alleged CBN consultancy fraud.
Similarly, Adnan Mukhtar Tudunwada, a former Kano House of Assembly aspirant, labelled the arrest “purely political,” linking it to Tambuwal’s recent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
But some voices are urging Nigerians to focus on the substance of the allegations rather than political interpretations. Public affairs advocate Rabiu Musa said: “Whether political or not, people should ask — did Tambuwal commit the offence? That is the real issue.”
The EFCC maintains that its investigations are ongoing and that no one — regardless of political affiliation — is above the law.
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