The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released former Sokoto State governor and serving senator, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a day after he was detained over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals totalling ₦189 billion.
Tambuwal, who represents Sokoto South in the Senate and previously served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, regained his freedom on Tuesday after meeting his bail conditions.
The former governor had honoured an EFCC invitation on Monday, arriving at the commission’s Abuja headquarters at about 11:30 a.m., where he was interrogated and detained overnight.
According to EFCC sources, the withdrawals under investigation allegedly contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. “The withdrawals were in flagrant violation of the Act,” one official claimed, adding that the probe is ongoing.
A senior EFCC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed Tambuwal’s release. “He has been granted administrative bail. He met the bail conditions and has been released,” the source said.
Efforts to reach EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale for official comment were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to his phone went unanswered.
The detention has drawn strong criticism from former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who described it as political persecution.
In a post on X, Atiku alleged that the move was part of an attempt by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to coerce opposition figures into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The only reason the @officialEFCC has detained the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, @AWTambuwal, is because he is a member of the opposition coalition. It is a continuation of the Tinubu-led administration’s agenda to harass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition,” Atiku wrote.
