Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a scathing condemnation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the arrest and continued detention of former federal lawmaker, Hon. Muhammad Kazaure.
The former presidential candidate accused the anti-graft agency of engaging in acts of lawlessness and political persecution under the guise of fighting corruption.
In a statement released on Saturday and signed by Atiku himself, he decried what he described as a disturbing pattern of arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, and disregard for constitutional rights—hallmarks that, according to him, have come to define the operations of the EFCC under the current administration.
“The EFCC has once again plunged headlong into its well-worn pattern of lawlessness, arresting and detaining citizens with brazen disregard for due process and without offering any justification for its actions,” the statement read.
Hon. Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi Federal Constituency in Jigawa State, was reportedly arrested in Kano earlier this week and transported to Abuja by EFCC operatives.
Since then, he has allegedly been held incommunicado, with no official charge or explanation provided to his legal team or family.
Kazaure is well known for his fiery criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, often accusing it of corruption, poor governance, and democratic backsliding. His arrest, Atiku claims, is part of a broader effort by the government to intimidate dissenters and muzzle opposition voices.
“We are left with no choice but to conclude that Kazaure’s ordeal is a direct consequence of his fearless and unrelenting criticism of this administration,” Atiku asserted.
“This government’s hypocrisy is as staggering as it is shameless: while it strikes cosy deals with politically connected figures tainted by corruption, it unleashes the machinery of the state to harass and silence its critics.”
The EFCC has remained silent on the matter. The agency’s spokesperson, Tony Oyewale, is yet to respond to questions sent to him for comment.
“This is not the first time we are witnessing such abuse,” Atiku said, referencing the recent unlawful detention of popular social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan.
“His release only came after massive public outrage and pressure. This continued pattern of impunity must end.”
Citing Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to personal liberty and mandates that any individual arrested must be charged to court within a reasonable time or released, Atiku stressed that no agency of government, including the EFCC, is above the law.
“Let it be stated without equivocation: even if there were legitimate grounds for arresting any citizen, such action must adhere strictly to the rule of law,” he said.
“The EFCC is duty-bound to publicly disclose the reasons for any arrest and must not detain individuals indefinitely under the guise of investigation.”
He warned, “The Nigerian people are watching. And history will not forget.”
