Tambuwal release spark exchange between coalition ADC and EFCC

Di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) don confam di release of former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal ova di alleged cash withdrawals of 189 billion naira ($123 million).

Wen BBC Pidgin follow di tok-tok pesin of EFCC, Dele Oyewole tok and e confam say dem release Tambuwal on Tuesday.

"I fit confam say e dey custody on Tuesday and we don release am," e tok.

Di anti-graft agency neva tok about di corruption allegations against Tambuwal publicly even afta dem release am but di commission don publicly address di allegations by di former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday.

EFCC tok say ADC attack on di commission about how dem dey handle cases involving politically exposed pesins come shockily rude and na baseless "blame game".

Chairman of EFCC, Kayode Olukoyede tok say EFCC dey non-partisan becos dem dey serve both di rulling party and di opposition party.

E tok say im no get any issues wen investigating serving and former, govnors and ministers of di ruling party so make di opposition no condem am for investigating dia leaders.

Di antigraft agency tok say claim by ADC say di opposition coalition summon by EFCC dey politically motivated dey "clearly self-serving" becos wetin dey determine "fresh cases" and old cases?

Di commission tok say ADC dey right to admit say EFCC no belong to APC alone becos e belong to di Nigerian pipo, and na taxpayers dey fund am no be di ruling party.

"Di ADC and oda political groups make dem focus on dia partisan activities and allow di commission to carry out her mandate. Nothing go make innocent pesin answer any charge from di EFCC," di commission tok.

"Di immunity against any investigation by di EFCC na accountability and probity. Fraud na fraud. Corruption na corruption. No sacred cow, protected interest or partisan consideration in di investigation and prosecution of corruption.

"Di EFCC go continue to do dia job and all well-meaning Nigerians need to ignore political statements wey go heat up di polity and divert attention from di pillage of di national treasury."

While reacting to di EFCC allegations on Tuesday, ADC accuse di commission say don launch attack against key figures in di party.

Di party tok say dem deeply concened becos goment dey plan to arrest top political leaders from di party, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Abubakar Malami (SAN), Emeka Ihedioha, and odas.

Di party alleged say di new strategy by EFCC na to weaken di opposition ahead of di general elections.

ADC tok say while dem support di investigation by di EFCC for justice make dem stop to dey witch hunt di opposition and deliver evidence led investigation.

"We affirm without equivocation say we support di credible fight against corruption,di one wey dey transparent, evidence-led, and even-handed," ADC tok.

"Wetin we dey reject na di weaponisation of di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct media spectacles through selective invitations, strategic leaks, midnight letters labele "urgent," and headline-driven detentions."

"Nigeria Constitution guaranty dignity, personal liberty, and fair hearing, while di Administration of Criminal Justice Act prescribe humane arrest and trial procedures. Public humiliation, trial-by-press, and selective prosecutions can base on trust in di very institutions wey dem design to deliver justice."

Wetin don happun?

Tori don come out on Monday, say former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal dey EFCC detention ova corruption allegations.

Di tori be say Tambuwal dey for EFCC custody wia e dey face questioning as dem dey investigate di money laundering allegations against am.

E neva clear why di former govnor dey for EFCC custody.

EFCC tok-tok pesin, Dele Oyewale no gree share di details.

Former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar allege say di detention of Tambuwal, by di EFCC na part of di agenda of Tinubu-led administration to "harass, intimidate, and weaken di opposition."

Atiku tok dis inside one statement on X on Tuesday, e say dis adminstration dey use di fight against "corruption as political tool to turn opposition leaders into di ruling party."

"Di only reason the @officialEFCC detain di former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, @AWTambuwal na becos im be member of di opposition Coalition," di statement tok.

"Na continuation of di Tinubu-led administration agenda to harrass, intimidate, and decimate di opposition."

Atiku accuse Tinubu admistration say dem dey use EFCC as political tool

Atiku tok say anyone wey be associates wit di opposition na target for corruption allegations and as soon as di pesin turn into di political agenda of president dem don forgive dem of dia "sins".

E condemn EFCC a mechanism to fight opposition into di ruling party adding say dis na di reason im "work hard during our administration to create di EFCC."

Atiku tok say how dem dey use EFCC to empty opposition govnors into di party no go end soon while im call upon Nigerians and international communities make dem condemn dis political agenda.

"Dat, definitely, no be how to build institutions. Dat, certainly, no be how to fight di monster of corruption. Indeed, such tendencies provide di stimulant for corruption to thrive," Atiku tok.

"We don see how dem dey use EFCC to empty opposition state govnors into di ruling party, and di tea party no go end anytime soon."

"While di genuine fight against corruption na matta wey require di total support of all Nigerians, civil society spaces and friends of Nigeria in di international community suppose condemn di objectification of am as political agenda."

"We have in recent times witnessed the use of anti-corruption agencies in coercing political leaders into the ruling party. Our assurance to Nigerians is that we would never succumb to this anti-democratic machinations of railroading our people into a one-party dictatorship."