Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of politicising law enforcement.
The allegation followed the revocation of bail earlier granted to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami.
Atiku said anti-corruption institutions have abandoned their core responsibilities, converting the anti-graft campaign into what he termed a full-blown political witch-hunt.
According to Atiku, “the nation’s anti-corruption war is dangerously sliding off course and mutating into a brazen political witch-hunt.”
The ADC chieftain claimed the EFCC is straying far from the noble principles on which it was founded, alleging that the agency is now weaponising its powers to serve narrow political agendas.
“The politicisation of corruption investigations has rendered the EFCC’s credibility suspect and rubbished the very ideals that inspired its establishment,” Atiku said.
For the ADC, detaining Malami appeared less about justice and more about politics. The party argued that the timing of the bail revocation raised serious concerns about the EFCC’s motives.
It noted that the EFCC’s action came shortly after Malami attended a political rally in Kebbi State, fuelling suspicion that the move was aimed at curtailing his political activities rather than addressing any genuine legal breach.
The party insisted that there was no evidence Malami had violated any of the conditions attached to his bail.
The party’s position was outlined in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who maintained that the former Attorney-General had fully cooperated with EFCC investigators and acted within the confines of the law.
“From all available evidence, Malami did not violate any of the legal conditions attached to his initial bail,” the party said.
It was reported that the EFCC refuted claims by Malami that his bail was revoked because he attended a political gathering in Kebbi State.
