Atiku Challenges Tinubu on El-Rufai's Release Order

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to release former Kaduna Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. This challenge was issued on Thursday through a statement by Atiku's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

Atiku's remarks followed President Tinubu's directive to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to vacate a court order that froze the Osun State Government’s account. Atiku criticized the President's intervention, arguing it undermines the claim of independence of Nigeria's anti-corruption agencies.

He pointed out discrepancies in the EFCC's statements regarding the existence of a court order and questioned the operational independence of the EFCC if it complies with the President's directive. Atiku emphasized that true institutional independence cannot coexist with direct presidential control, asserting that the President's actions create a constitutional and moral obligation that should be consistently applied.