By Ayo Ayodele
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State, over alleged illegal withdrawals totaling ₦189,155,043,825.09 from state government accounts during his tenure.
Sources at the EFCC said the withdrawals, allegedly made between January 2015 and August 2021, came from three accounts: the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the Government House Account, and the Secretary to the State Government Account. The transactions were reportedly in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Tambuwal, who arrived at the EFCC’s Abuja office around 11:30 a.m. yesterday, was interrogated and is expected to spend the night in custody. At least five other officials, including cashiers, may testify against him or face trial alongside him.
According to an EFCC fact sheet, the three accounts received a total inflow of ₦567,160,024,619.93, from which the alleged illegal withdrawals were made in favour of government officials, individuals, companies, and agencies. Investigators say they have a “high degree of confidence” that the named officials were involved in diversion of public funds, misappropriation, and money laundering.
The EFCC is also probing FAAC payouts to private firms, including Nagarta Microfinance Bank and Bilya Micro System.
Tambuwal, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after the 2023 elections, has received the backing of his new party.
In a statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi accused the EFCC of selective prosecution, alleging the agency is being used as a political tool by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The party claimed the Commission is reviving old cases to intimidate opposition figures while abandoning investigations into ruling party members.
“The EFCC belongs to the Nigerian people, not the APC,” the statement said, calling on civil society, the media, and the public to resist “the misuse of public institutions for partisan objectives.”
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined to comment on the matter.