The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday detained a former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, over alleged fraud after honouring an invitation by the anti-graft agency in the afternoon, where he was subsequently taken into custody. The former Sokoto governor was grilled over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals to the tune of N189 billion.
Although it was learnt he was not actually arrested, after failing to explain the source of the N189 billion he withdrew, he was thrown into jail.
The EFCC insisted they will continue to keep him until he can provide a convincing explanation for the N189 billion he withdrew.
According to the EFCC “The withdrawals are in flagrant violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022. He will have to explain how the money was spent.”
Tambuwal’s Associate Speaks
A source who is very close to the former governor who craved anonymity alleged that the issue is “100 per cent politics”. He said the whole problem started about four months ago when some persons close to the government reached out to Tambuwal to join the Tinubu “train”.
“He consulted some of us around him, and we wondered how we can in good conscience work with the government with the level of poverty and insecurity bedevilling the country, especially the northern region,” he said.
The source added that after that nothing more was heard of the issue until about three weeks ago when Tambuwal got a letter from the EFCC, saying they were making enquiries about his time as governor of Sokoto State.
“When he asked the commission to give specifics, they failed to do so. Tambuwal then asked them to reach out to the state to find out if there were things about his administration they were not comfortable with. Although they did not give specifics, we suspect it may have to do with World Bank funds disbursed during his tenure as governor. The money was paid through bank accounts, and Tambuwal was actually given a clean bill of health by the World Bank,” he said.
The source said after that, the former governor received an invitation which he honoured yesterday. He added that later in the night, the EFCC agreed that the former governor could be bailed, and his associates met the bail conditions, but the commission decided to keep him in custody till today.
Another source close to Tambuwal corroborated the argument of the political dimension to the invitation.
The source said, “The current governor of Sokoto State was deputy governor to Tambuwal at a certain time before they fell apart.
“He (Governor Aliyu Sokoto) was part of many of the decisions taken in the state during Tambuwal’s tenure as governor. So, for fairness, the EFCC ought to have mentioned his name in their investigation even though he has immunity for now.
“And besides Tambuwal, some of those who served under him have been invited by the EFCC for interrogation. However, what we are asking for is fairness and not vendetta. People should not be put in the spotlight for political expediency,” he said.
Another source added that a similar overture was made to the former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, about six months earlier to join the Tinubu “train” and that he also has an invitation to appear before the EFCC within the week.
Coalition With Atiku
Senator Tambuwal, while still claiming to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was seen bragging on a viral video, saying they will do like Nyesom Wike by remaining in PDP and working against it.
Tambuwal has aligned himself with the opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He appeared alongside prominent figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, at the coalition’s adoption of the ADC on July 2 as its platform to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election. He was also with Atiku in Daura during the burial of former president Muhammadu Buhari.
Unlike Atiku, however, Tambuwal has yet to formally resign from the PDP. He, however, remains one of Atiku’s most trusted political allies, with a partnership that extends beyond party politics into broader opposition coalition-building.
ADC Kicks, Say Selective Witch Hunt
Reacting to the incident, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of carrying out selective investigations, “mainly against the opposition”, describing it as a sign of dictatorship.
The coalition party described the commission’s behaviour as like “a political hit squad for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)” and warned that “this dangerous trend is eroding public trust in the institution and undermining the real fight against corruption.”
The ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said, “The EFCC’s recent pattern of action, reopening closed cases, digging up files from years past, and targeting members of opposition parties is not the work of an impartial anti-graft body. It is the work of a political enforcer.”
Their alliance first drew national attention during the PDP presidential primaries in 2019, when Tambuwal, after losing the contest, promptly threw his support behind Atiku in the general election against then-President Muhammadu Buhari. In 2022, Tambuwal cemented his relationship by making a dramatic, last-minute withdrawal from the PDP presidential primary on the convention floor, urging his delegates to back Atiku. The move was widely credited with securing Atiku’s victory over Nyesom Wike and other contenders.
