The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained former Sokoto State governor and current senator, Waziri Aminu Tambuwal, over alleged withdrawals of N189 billion from the state’s accounts during his tenure.

Tambuwal, who arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 11:30am yesterday, was grilled over what the agency described as “suspicious” transactions carried out between 2015 and 2021 from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) account, the Government House account, and the Secretary to the State Government account.

An EFCC fact sheet alleged:

“Specifically, the above accounts received a total cumulative inflow of N567,160,024,619.93, out of which N189,155,043,825.09 was withdrawn in favour of government officials, individuals (suspected to be cashiers), companies and other groups/agencies.”

Investigators say about five other suspects, including cashiers and government officials, may testify against the ex-governor or face trial with him.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), which Tambuwal recently joined, has condemned the move as political harassment. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said:

“These are not fresh cases arising from new evidence but new files opened in reaction to emergent political affiliations to intimidate key opposition figures. The Commission now operates like a department of the APC.”

Tambuwal has yet to respond to the allegations.