Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest and prolonged detention of former House of Representatives member, Muhammad Kazaure.
In a statement shared on his verified X handle on Saturday, Atiku denounced the EFCC’s action as a clear violation of due process.
He accused the anti-graft agency of overstepping its constitutional boundaries, calling the incident part of a growing trend of political intimidation.
“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,” Atiku wrote, referencing a recent case that sparked widespread criticism.
He continued, “Now, the EFCC has targeted Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives and an unapologetic critic of the gross misgovernance and failings of the Tinubu administration.”
“Abducted in Kano and whisked away to Abuja, Kazaure is presently being held incommunicado, with no formal charge or explanation offered to his family, legal team, or the Nigerian people.”
Atiku emphasized that lawful procedure must be observed in all arrests, noting, “Let it be stated without equivocation: even if there were legitimate grounds for arresting any citizen, 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.”
He concluded by alleging that the motive behind Kazaure’s arrest was his consistent criticism of 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 asserted.
