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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest of a former member of the House of Representatives, Muhammad Kazaure.
Kazaure, who represented the Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi Federal Constituency from 2015 to 2023, was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday.
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Reacting to the development via his social media platforms, Atiku accused the EFCC of once again plunging headlong into its familiar pattern of lawlessness by arresting and detaining the former lawmaker.
He alleged that the anti-graft agency was operating with blatant disregard for due process and had failed to provide any justification for its actions.
“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. 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”, said Atiku.
He emphasised that even when there are legitimate grounds for arresting a citizen, such actions must strictly comply with the rule of law.
Atiku noted that the Commission has a duty to publicly disclose the reasons behind any arrest and must not detain individuals indefinitely under the pretext of conducting investigations.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unequivocal on this matter—every detainee must be promptly charged to court or released. 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. Its deafening silence regarding the arrest of Hon. Kazaure, a man who represented the good people of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency, lays bare the agency’s contempt for transparency and justice.
“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. 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.The Nigerian people are watching. And history will not forget.”
A prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kazaure has consistently spoken out on national issues, particularly insecurity and allegations of financial misconduct involving former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
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On 17 December 2022, the Central Bank of Nigeria refuted claims made by Kazaure, who alleged that N89.09 trillion in stamp duty revenue had been misappropriated and that Emefiele had allegedly stashed $171 billion in a private account linked to the Bank’s investors.
Recently, Kazaure honoured an invitation to the EFCC office in Kano but was unexpectedly taken into custody and transported to Abuja on Wednesday.
So far, the reasons behind his arrest remain unclear, sparking widespread speculation about the true nature of his detention.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC has yet to release an official statement.
