Nigeria's anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has taken into custody former Sokoto State governor and current senator Aminu Tambuwal for questioning over allegations of massive financial malfeasance during his tenure as governor.
According to exclusive reports from The Cable, the prominent opposition figure is being grilled at EFCC headquarters in Abuja regarding suspected fraudulent cash withdrawals totaling a staggering ₦189 billion from state coffers - one of the largest corruption cases involving a former state executive in recent years.
This high-profile arrest has sparked immediate political backlash, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leveling serious accusations that the EFCC is conducting selective, politically-motivated investigations targeting opposition figures ahead of crucial elections.
In a strongly-worded statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged a clear pattern of harassment against senior members of opposition coalitions, claiming these recent EFCC invitations correlate suspiciously with individuals' political affiliations rather than concrete evidence of wrongdoing.
The opposition party further raised eyebrows by asserting that many of these cases being suddenly revived involve dusting off old files from previous administrations without presenting any substantial new evidence - a practice they describe as "political witch-hunting" designed to intimidate government critics ahead of the electoral season.
Legal experts note this development comes at a particularly sensitive time in Nigeria's political calendar, with Tambuwal's detention likely to escalate tensions between the ruling party and opposition alliances. The massive ₦189 billion figure being cited - equivalent to hundreds of millions of dollars - would represent one of the most significant corruption cases in Nigeria's recent history if proven in court.
Observers are watching closely to see whether this arrest signals a renewed anti-corruption push by the EFCC or whether, as the ADC claims, it represents the weaponization of financial crime investigations for political purposes. The case's handling in coming days could have major implications for Nigeria's delicate political balance and the perceived independence of its key institutions.