Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a scathing condemnation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for what he describes as a pattern of lawlessness and disregard for due process in its recent arrests. In a statement, Atiku criticized the EFCC’s detention of citizens without justification, citing the cases of activist Martins Vincent Otse (VeryDarkMan) and Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a former House of Representatives member.
Atiku highlighted the unlawful arrest and release of VeryDarkMan following public outcry and the subsequent targeting of Kazaure, a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration. Kazaure was reportedly abducted in Kano, taken to Abuja, and is being held incommunicado without charges or communication with his family or legal team. Atiku stressed that even if arrests are justified, the EFCC is obligated to adhere to the rule of law, publicly disclose reasons for arrests, and either charge detainees promptly or release them, as mandated by Nigeria’s Constitution.
He accused the EFCC of entrenching impunity and violating constitutional rights, suggesting Kazaure’s detention is retribution for his criticism of the government. Atiku further alleged hypocrisy in the administration’s selective targeting of critics while sparing politically connected figures accused of corruption.
“The Nigerian people are watching. And history will not forget,” Atiku concluded, emphasizing the need for transparency and justice.
