Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for arresting and continuing to detain former House of Representatives member Muhammad Kazaure, calling it a clear violation of due process.
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Atiku described Kazaure’s detention as a blatant disregard for the rule of law, accusing the anti-corruption agency of exceeding its constitutional authority. He further alleged that the EFCC is increasingly being used as a tool for political suppression, pointing to what he termed a disturbing pattern of lawlessness under the current government.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has once again resorted to its familiar pattern of lawlessness, arbitrarily arresting and detaining citizens without following due process or providing any justification,” Atiku stated.
He also drew attention to the recent detention of social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who was released only after intense public outcry. According to Atiku, Kazaure’s situation is part of a broader trend where state institutions are weaponized to silence critics.
“We saw this same abuse in the unlawful detention of Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, who was freed only after significant public pressure,” he noted.
Atiku further alleged that Kazaure, an outspoken critic of the Tinubu administration, was taken from Kano to Abuja and is being held incommunicado without any formal charges or explanation to his family, legal team, or the public.
He emphasized that even if there were valid grounds for Kazaure’s arrest, due process must be strictly followed. He insisted that the EFCC is obligated to publicly disclose the reasons for any arrest and avoid holding individuals indefinitely under the guise of investigation.
The former Vice President stressed that the Nigerian Constitution is clear—every detainee must be promptly charged or released. He argued that the EFCC’s actions undermine the fundamental rights of citizens and deepen its reputation for impunity and disregard for constitutional principles.
“The agency’s silence regarding Hon. Kazaure, who represented the people of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency, exposes its contempt for transparency and justice,” Atiku said.
He concluded that Kazaure’s ordeal appears to be a direct consequence of his bold and persistent criticism of the current administration, accusing the government of double standards—while it makes deals with powerful individuals accused of corruption, it uses state institutions to intimidate and silence its critics.
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