EFCC Releases ex- Gov Tambuwal On Bail

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has released the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, on bail.

Tambuwal, who currently represents Sokoto South in the Senate, was freed on Tuesday after meeting his bail conditions.

He was detained over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals totalling about N189 billion, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The former governor, who also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives, had honoured an EFCC invitation on Monday, arriving at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja at about 11:30 a.m, but was promptly detained and quizzed 

overnight.

EFCC sources confirmed to The Punch on Tuesday, that Tambuwal had been released.

“He has been granted administrative bail. He met the bail conditions and has been released,” the source said.

Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had condemned Tambuwal’s detention, alleging political persecution.

In a post on X, Atiku claimed the move was part of a plan by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to pressure opposition figures into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress.

“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,” he wrote.