Atiku says Malami’s arrest is EFCC’s political witch-hunt
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies of abandoning their true responsibilities and turning the anti-graft campaign into what he calls a “completely politicised witch-hunt.”
In a statement released by his media office and circulated by his adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku cautioned that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and similar agencies could lose public confidence if they do not “rid themselves of political influence.”
His comments came after the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was detained by the EFCC.
EFCC insiders told reporters on Tuesday that Malami would remain in custody until he meets all bail conditions.
According to one source, “He is currently with us. We granted him bail earlier, but he has not met the conditions. He is being investigated for 18 different offences, including money laundering, abuse of office, and financing terrorism. We cannot state the full amount involved yet because new information continues to appear.”
Another official added that Malami would not be released until he meets the bail requirements.
Atiku argued that Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts are “dangerously veering off track and evolving into an outright political vendetta.”
He accused the EFCC of drifting away from the principles on which it was founded and “using its authority as a tool for political targeting.”
He said the selective manner in which opposition personalities—such as Malami—are being pursued makes the EFCC appear to be “an overzealous arm of government determined to silence rival political voices and entrench a one-party state.”
According to Atiku, “The EFCC suddenly sprang into action once the African Democratic Congress (ADC) became an opposition force. It began coordinated moves against key figures like Malami and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, while conveniently ignoring high-profile corruption allegations involving those close to the ruling party.”
He added that the EFCC should have objected to the appointment of former governors who still have unresolved corruption cases but “chose to remain silent out of political loyalty.”
Atiku further argued that if Malami had defected to the APC, “the EFCC would not have touched him, even if he had emptied the entire vault of the Central Bank.”
He stressed that no responsible nation weakens the neutrality of its anti-corruption agencies for political gain.
Atiku urged the EFCC leadership to shield itself from political meddling, warning that the agency’s credibility is too important to be sacrificed for the temporary interests of any political party.
Source: Punchng