Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken a swipe at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing the agency of abusing its powers following the arrest and continued detention of former lawmaker, Hon. Muhammad Kazaure.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Atiku described the EFCC’s actions as unconstitutional and politically motivated. He alleged that the anti-graft body is operating with “brazen disregard for due process” and is targeting critics of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Hon. Kazaure, a former House of Representatives member and outspoken critic of the current government, was reportedly arrested in Kano and moved to Abuja. According to Atiku, he is being held “incommunicado” with no charges disclosed to his family, legal team, or the public.
“This arrest follows the same abuse of power we saw in the recent unlawful detention of Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who was only released after public outrage,” Atiku stated.
He emphasized that even if Kazaure’s arrest was lawful, the EFCC must follow due process by informing the public and charging him to court promptly.
“The Nigerian Constitution is clear, anyone arrested must be promptly charged to court or released,” Atiku asserted.
He further alleged that Kazaure’s detention is a direct result of his persistent criticism of the Tinubu administration. Atiku also accused the government of double standards, claiming it shields politically connected individuals facing corruption allegations while clamping down on dissenters.
“The EFCC’s silence only deepens its descent into impunity and constitutional violations,” he said, urging Nigerians to remain alert and aware.
“The people are watching. And history will not forget,” Atiku concluded.
As of press time, the EFCC has not issued a formal response to the claims regarding Kazaure’s arrest.
