The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Senator Waziri Aminu Tambuwal over the alleged withdrawal of N189 billion from Sokoto State Government accounts during his tenure as governor.
The EFCC said the withdrawals were made incrementally over six years and came from three key accounts the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the Government House Account, and the Secretary to the State Government Account.
Tambuwal arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 11:30am on Monday and faced immediate interrogation. He was expected to spend the night in custody.
According to EFCC documents, the accounts received a total inflow of over N567 billion between January 2015 and August 2021. Investigators allege that N189 billion was withdrawn in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The funds were reportedly paid to government officials, suspected cashiers, companies, and other entities. Five other individuals linked to the transactions may testify against Tambuwal or face trial alongside him.
The EFCC also recommended probing other state government accounts and investigating transactions involving private companies like Nagarta Microfinance Bank and Bilya Micro System.
ADC Accuses EFCC of Political Targeting
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), which Tambuwal recently joined, criticised the EFCC’s actions, calling them politically motivated.
ADC spokesperson Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi accused the anti-graft agency of acting like a political arm of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He alleged that the EFCC selectively reopens old cases against opposition members while ignoring similar allegations against ruling party allies.
The party urged Nigerians, civil society, and the media to resist what it described as the misuse of public institutions for partisan purposes.
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