EFCC Frees Tambuwal on Bail After ₦189bn Fraud Probe Sparks Political Firestorm

EFCC has freed Tambuwal on bail after ₦189bn fraud probe sparked political firestorm.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released former Sokoto State Governor and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on administrative bail less than 24 hours after his arrest over alleged fraudulent withdrawals totalling ₦189 billion.

Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, honoured the EFCC’s invitation on Monday, arriving at the agency’s Abuja headquarters shortly after 11 a.m. He was interrogated for hours over transactions said to contravene the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, before being detained overnight.

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Sources within the commission confirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain met his bail conditions and was released on Tuesday afternoon. EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, was unavailable for official comment.

The arrest has triggered a fierce political backlash, with opposition leaders accusing the Tinubu-led government of weaponising the EFCC to silence dissent.

Former Vice President and PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, described the arrest as “politically motivated” and part of “a broader agenda to harass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition.”

“It is only because he is a member of the opposition coalition,” Atiku posted on X, warning that such actions pose a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability.

The Sokoto PDP echoed the sentiment, alleging a plot to smear Tambuwal’s image and force defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also accused the EFCC of “selective prosecution,” pointing to a pattern of targeting opposition figures.

EFCC insiders confirmed the investigation is ongoing, with more witnesses expected to be invited for questioning in the coming days.

Tambuwal’s media team is yet to issue an official response, but analysts say the case could further deepen tensions between the APC and opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.