The Presidency has expressed support for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following its declaration of Abdullahi Haske, businessman and son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as wanted over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Haske, founder of AA & R Investment Group, was placed on the EFCC’s wanted list after reportedly breaching the terms of his administrative bail and failing to respond to invitations from the commission. An EFCC insider stated that he has been under investigation for several months over alleged corruption and disappeared after securing bail.
“His case with the EFCC has been ongoing for some time. He was invited but failed to comply with the conditions of his bail,” the source noted. “He would not have been declared wanted if he had honored our invitations.”
In a notice from the EFCC, members of the public were urged to report any information regarding Haske’s whereabouts. The agency provided his last known addresses and contact details for tips.
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, claimed that the investigation could be politically motivated, suggesting that the Tinubu administration is targeting opposition figures. “We hope the young man is not being victimized due to his connection to the former Vice President,” Ibe stated.
However, the Presidency dismissed these allegations, with Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, asserting that the EFCC is acting within its mandate. “There is no harassment or victimization here,” he emphasized. “No one is above the law.”
Dare added that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to strengthening the rule of law and due process, contrasting it with previous administrations that allegedly used state institutions for political purposes.
