- Safiu Kehinde
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, hours after his arrest over alleged N189 billion fraud.
NPO Reported that Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and current Senator representing Sokoto South, was arrested and detained by the EFCC on Monday.
His arrest had sparked reactions from opposition figures, especially former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who described the arrest as an act of political intimidation by President Bola Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku had in a post on his X handle om Tuesday accused the EFCC of being used as a political tool to pressure opposition figures int defecting to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
He alleged that corruption allegations against politicians are often dropped once they join the APC.
While the EFCC had since refuted Atiku’s claims, sources familiar with the case confirmed that the commission has on Tuesday evening freed Tambuwal.
According to reports, the EFCC Investigators accused the senator of breaching provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, through large-scale cash withdrawals allegedly executed during his governorship.
However, the anti-graft agency is yet to issue an official statement on the matter.