Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Federal Government of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a political tool to harass and intimidate opposition figures.
In a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, Atiku alleged that the continued detention of former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, was part of a broader agenda to weaken the opposition coalition. He claimed that the EFCC was targeting opposition leaders with corruption allegations while members of the ruling party facing similar accusations remained free.
“At this rate, the anti-corruption fight has been reduced to a political weapon, contrary to the purpose for which the EFCC was established during our administration,” Atiku said. He further alleged that the agency had been used to pressure opposition governors into defecting to the ruling party.
While stressing that the genuine fight against corruption should have the support of all Nigerians, Atiku urged stakeholders to reject what he described as the politicisation of anti-graft agencies. He vowed that the opposition would not be coerced into what he called “a one-party dictatorship.”
