Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest and detention of Muhammad Kazaure, a former House of Representatives member and outspoken critic of President Bola Tinubu. In a statement on Saturday, Atiku described Kazaure’s arrest in Kano and subsequent transfer to Abuja as an “abduction,” noting that he is being held incommunicado without formal charges or explanation to his family, legal team, or the public.
Atiku accused the EFCC of a recurring pattern of lawlessness and disregard for due process, citing the earlier detention of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse (VeryDarkMan), whose release was only secured after widespread public outrage. He asserted that even if there were legitimate grounds for Kazaure’s arrest, the agency is constitutionally obliged to disclose the reasons and either charge him to court or release him promptly.
The former Vice President argued that the EFCC’s silence on Kazaure’s case demonstrates “contempt for transparency and justice,” and said the lawmaker’s ordeal is a direct result of his fearless criticism of the Tinubu administration. Atiku further accused the government of hypocrisy, claiming it shields politically connected figures accused of corruption while using state machinery to intimidate and silence opponents.
Atiku concluded by warning that Nigerians are watching the government’s actions and that history would not forget such abuses of power.
