The Presidency has declared support for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following the agency’s decision to declare businessman Abdullahi Haske wanted. Haske, a son-in-law to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, is accused of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
EFCC Issues Wanted Notice
According to the EFCC, Haske violated the terms of his administrative bail and ignored several official invitations. The commission, in a public notice signed by its spokesperson Dele Oyewale, urged Nigerians to assist law enforcement agencies with credible information regarding his location.
The anti-graft agency also disclosed Haske’s last known addresses in Lagos, including properties in Ikoyi and Victoria Island. To strengthen its appeal, the EFCC provided telephone hotlines and an official email address for the submission of tips.
Links to NNPCL Transactions
Haske is the founder of AA & R Investment Group, a diversified company with interests in energy, agribusiness, ICT, and logistics. Investigators have reportedly linked the firm to ongoing inquiries into multimillion-dollar transfers involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Atiku’s Camp Alleges Political Intimidation
The development has generated controversy within political circles. Paul Ibe, spokesperson to Atiku Abubakar, dismissed the EFCC’s notice as a case of political persecution. He accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using state institutions to silence perceived opposition figures.
“Our fear is that this young man is being targeted because of his family ties to the former Vice President,” Ibe alleged. He further claimed that the move mirrors Tinubu’s strategy of deploying state power to intimidate critics.
Presidency Responds to Allegations
The Presidency, however, firmly rejected the claims. In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, the government maintained that the EFCC was acting within its legal framework.
“There is no harassment or victimisation here. What we are seeing is the lawful and independent operation of Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions. Nobody is above the law,” Dare explained.
He added that the Tinubu administration was determined to strengthen due process and reinforce institutional independence. According to him, previous governments were notorious for manipulating state agencies for political gains, a practice Tinubu intends to end.
Emphasis on Rule of Law
Dare stressed that those politicising the EFCC’s declaration misplace their arguments, insisting that credible evidence supports the ongoing investigation.
“Those trying to frame this as political harassment are grasping at straws. This administration has no interest in witch-hunts. Investigations and prosecutions must stand on evidence, not politics,” he stated.
The Presidency further assured that anti-corruption agencies would continue to operate without interference, underscoring Tinubu’s pledge to ensure accountability and transparency in public governance.
