By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA: Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC to release former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, arguing that if the president could order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC to vacate its freeze on Osun State’s government account, he has no basis to claim powerlessness over El-Rufai’s continued detention.
The African Democratic Congress ADC presidential candidate said on Thursday in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, that Tinubu’s intervention in the Osun matter had demolished the long-held claim that anti-corruption agencies act independently of the Presidency.
“Having now demonstrated that he can issue direct operational directives to anti-corruption agencies whenever he considers it expedient, President Tinubu owes Nigerians an explanation as to why he cannot exercise the same authority in the case of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
“If he can direct the EFCC to discontinue its action today, then he cannot pretend to be powerless over the actions of the ICPC tomorrow”, Atiku declared.
