Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for what he described as a “well-worn pattern of lawlessness,” following the arrest and detention of Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a former House of Representatives member.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) page on Saturday, May 10, 2025, Atiku alleged that the anti-graft agency has once again acted with “brazen disregard for due process,” detaining citizens without justification.
“We witnessed this same abuse in the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, whose release was only secured after massive public outrage and pressure,” he said.
Atiku claimed that Kazaure, a vocal critic of the Bola Tinubu administration, was “abducted in Kano and whisked away to Abuja,” where he is allegedly being held incommunicado.
“Kazaure is presently being held with no formal charge or explanation offered to his family, legal team, or the Nigerian people,” the former vice president said.
He stressed that even if there were legitimate grounds for arrest, “such action must adhere strictly to the rule of law.”
“The EFCC is duty-bound to publicly disclose the reasons for any arrest and must not detain individuals indefinitely under the guise of investigation.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unequivocal on this matter—every detainee must be promptly charged to court or released,” Atiku asserted.
He further accused the commission of displaying contempt for transparency and justice by failing to provide details on Kazaure’s arrest.
“By once again trampling on the fundamental rights of a Nigerian citizen, the EFCC is entrenching itself deeper into the mire of impunity and constitutional delinquency,” Atiku wrote.
He also suggested that the arrest was politically motivated, citing Kazaure’s critical stance against the current administration.
“We are left with no choice but to conclude that Kazaure’s ordeal is a direct consequence of his fearless and unrelenting criticism of this administration,” Atiku stated.
“This government’s hypocrisy is as staggering as it is shameless: while it strikes cosy deals with politically connected figures tainted by corruption, it unleashes the machinery of the state to harass and silence its critics.”
Concluding his remarks, Atiku issued a warning: “The Nigerian people are watching. And history will not forget.
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