Panic has gripped the African Democratic Congress as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission allegedly targets key members of the 2027 coalition, who are working to unseat President Bola Tinubu at the 2027 election.
This comes as the EFCC on Monday interrogated former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, a member of the coalition, over an alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to N189bn.
Tambuwal, who governed Sokoto State from 2015 to 2023, arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 11:30am and was taken in for questioning by investigators.
An EFCC source told The PUNCH that the withdrawals were suspected to be in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The source said, “Former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal is being held over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals to the tune of N189billion.
“The withdrawals are in flagrant violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022. The governor arrived the EFCC’s headquarters around 11:30am and faced interrogators on the alleged financial crime.”
Another official of the commission, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said, “He is in custody at our Abuja corporate headquarters. The investigation is ongoing.”
When contacted, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, declined to comment on the matter but ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, confirmed to The PUNCH three former governors, who are key leaders of the coalition, had been invited by the anti-graft body.
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, ADC Abdullahi stated, “Yes, they have summoned our members, but I won’t give you names. There are three of them, former governors. Some are already members of the National Assembly, while others are not.
“Some left office in 2023, and some even earlier than that. This is an attempt to force them to leave the coalition, or to intimidate them into not taking an active part in it. But we are determined to rescue Nigeria.”
In a statement issued earlier on Monday, Abdullahi had alleged that the EFCC had compromised its integrity by reopening old cases against opposition politicians while turning a blind eye to allegations involving the ruling All Progressives Congress members.
Responding, the EFCC refuted the accusation of being a political tool of the APC, maintaining that opposition members found guilty of wrongdoing would face prosecution in court.
The ADC, however, warned that selective probes for the ruling party eroded public trust and weakened the fight against corruption.
The ADC statement read, “In recent days, several senior members of the Opposition Coalition have received EFCC summons that are clearly politically motivated. These are not fresh cases arising from new evidence but new files opened in reaction to emergent political affiliations to intimidate key opposition figures.
“The EFCC was created to be a fearless defender of the Nigerian people’s trust, applying the law evenly to all, friend or foe, ruling party or opposition. Today, that vision appears to have been compromised. The Commission now operates like a department of the APC, deployed to fight government critics and opposition figures thereby achieving what the government cannot achieve through public debate.
“Meanwhile, we have observed how investigations into ruling party allies quietly fade away while opposition figures are dragged before the court of public opinion with sometimes decade-old allegations that have been hastily revived and dressed up as fresh evidence. This is selective prosecution, and selective prosecution is the death of justice.
“It does appear that in today’s Nigeria, one’s guilt or innocence depends on one’s party membership, not evidence. For example, since a certain former governor defected to the APC with his state’s entire political machinery, the EFCC’s investigations into his administration have vanished from public view. Not a question has been asked. Not a document leaked. Not a single update. Yet the same EFCC still somehow find means to reopen old cases against opposition leaders and pursue the stale allegations against them.”
ADC stressed that the EFCC is owned by the Nigerian people and funded by taxpayers, not the APC.
ADC added, “It does not augur well for the EFCC if people think that all you need to point the accusing hands of the Commission in your direction is to stand opposed to the ruling party and all that it takes for protection is to align with the government.
“Unfortunately, this is the widely established perception in Nigeria today, which the commission by its recent actions, including the ongoing surreptitious harassment of opposition leaders, has given credence to.
“The ADC hereby calls on all Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the independent media to resist this dangerous slide into dictatorship and misuse of public institutions to achieve partisan objectives. The EFCC does not belong to the APC. It belongs to the Nigerian people. It is funded by taxpayers, not the ruling party.”
Reacting, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale described the ADC’s allegations as untenable, daring the party to back its claims with facts.
He said, “This position is patently untenable and ridiculous. Where are the facts and statistics to justify such a claim?
“The commission is non-partisan and non-sectarian. Are cases Abdullahi is talking about concocted by the EFCC? Those who did the crime should be ready to have their time in court. Available records in our courts are enough to show that the EFCC only operates by its mandate, and the mandate does not make it an appendage of any political party.”
Multiple sources in the coalition, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to speak on the issue, said the EFCC move has sparked panic in the coalition camp.
One of the sources said, “A lot of our coalition members are concerned by this brazen show of power by the EFCC, which is obviously being used by those in power. But we won’t keep pushing for a better Nigeria.”
This development further deepens the crisis in the opposition coalition as several top politicians distanced themselves from the group in recent weeks.