The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has granted former Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal administrative bail after questioning him over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to about N189 billion during his tenure.
Mr Tambuwal, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023 and was previously speaker of the House of Representatives, arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja at 11:16 a.m. on Monday in response to an invitation by the anti-graft agency.
A senior EFCC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the 59-year-old politician was released after providing information requested by investigators.
“He has already been granted administrative bail. We’ve extracted what we need from him, and he will soon leave our headquarters after perfecting his bail conditions,” the official said.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the development on Tuesday but declined to give further details.
The alleged withdrawals are said to have violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
It remains unclear when the transactions were made.
Amimu Tambuwal, now representing Sokoto South in the Senate, is a prominent opposition figure and a member of the ADC coalition seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Reacting to Tambuwal’s arrest, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi said Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign must be consistent, fair and guided by the rule of law to be effective.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Obi described the EFCC action as a reminder of the “existing contradiction” in the country’s anti-graft fight.
“The fight against corruption in our country must be transparent to succeed,” he wrote.
“I have always reiterated that the sincerity of leaders is what is needed to tackle corruption in our society. And I look forward to the time when the anti-corruption fight in this country will be under one law that applies to all, no matter who is involved, and not one targeting political opponents and perceived enemies of the incumbent government.
“I expect the anti-graft operatives to be guided by their conscience and the rule of law if they hope to achieve much in wiping out corruption in our society. The rules of evidence and fact must replace impressions and preconceptions. In a credible fight against corruption, the public must be convinced that the rules are even and the subjects are not arbitrarily selected by the political convenience of the powers that be.”
