The Traffic

⚡ Political Storm: Atiku, ADC Slam EFCC Over Tambuwal Arrest — Agency Denies Being Tinubu’s ‘Attack Dog’

Nigeria’s anti-graft war has been thrust into a heated political crossfire following the detention of former Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged fraudulent withdrawals totaling ₦189 billion.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused President Bola Tinubu of weaponising the EFCC to “harass, intimidate, and decimate” the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The only reason the EFCC has detained Tambuwal is because he belongs to the opposition coalition,” Atiku said in a Facebook statement. “What we are witnessing is the objectification of the anti-corruption fight as a political tool. That was never the intention when we created the EFCC.”

Atiku urged civil society and Nigeria’s international partners to condemn what he called “state-sponsored bullying” and “media trials” of political rivals.

ADC: ‘This is persecution, not justice’
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) echoed Atiku’s sentiments, warning the EFCC against politicising its work. National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the recent probes into Tambuwal, former Imo governor Emeka Ihedioha, and ADC chairman David Mark as a calculated attempt to weaken the opposition.

“A fight against corruption that begins and ends with the opposition is not justice — it is persecution,” the ADC said, questioning why APC leaders with “more recent and better-documented corruption cases” remain untouched.

“Why now? Why these men? Why these timelines?” the party asked, accusing the EFCC of orchestrating “media trials” that damage reputations without securing convictions.

EFCC fires back: ‘Fraud is fraud’
In a swift rebuttal, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale dismissed the accusations as “self-serving and diversionary,” insisting the agency is non-partisan.

“Fraud is fraud, corruption is corruption. There is no sacred cow or protected interest in our investigations,” Oyewale said, stressing that criminal probes have no “time or season” constraints.

The EFCC also revealed that several senior APC figures, including sitting governors and ministers, are currently under investigation — a claim intended to counter the opposition’s allegations of bias.

As the war of words intensifies, the Tambuwal case has become more than a corruption probe — it is now a political litmus test for the credibility of Nigeria’s anti-graft war and the independence of its key institutions.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna