The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained former Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal for questioning over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to N189 billion.
A source at the anti-graft agency, who declined to be named, confirmed that the alleged withdrawals violated the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.
It was not immediately clear when the withdrawals were made.
The 59-year-old reportedly arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 11:30 a.m. on Monday and was still being interrogated by detectives as of Monday evening.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined to comment on the matter.
Mr Tambuwal served as Sokoto governor between 2015 and 2023.
Before that, he was speaker of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015.
He initially emerged as a leading figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) during its 2015 sweep to power, but returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2019 general elections, securing a second term as governor.
In 2023, towards the end of his tenure, Tambuwal was elected to the Senate to represent Sokoto South.
He is also a prominent opposition figure involved in the ADC coalition, which is seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
The EFCC believes the alleged withdrawals under Tambuwal’s watch were in an offensive breach of anti-money laundering laws.
