Why we placed fugitive Atiku’s son-in-law on wanted list – EFCC

• Many have expressed concern over the agency’s move, saying it has a political undertone and may be part of the plot to get at Atiku

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has provided further details regarding its search and manhunt for Abdullahi Bashir Haske, a businessman.

The anti-graft agency had on Thursday evening, in an official notice, declared Haske, who is also son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wanted over an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

However, many have expressed concern over the agency’s move, saying it has a political undertone and may be part of the plot to get at Atiku, who will likely contest for the presidency in 2027.

Reacting to Nigerians reaction to its decision, the EFCC described the insinuation of witch hunting and persecution as rubbish.

Speaking with Weekend Trust on Friday, the spokesman of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said the commission has been investigating Haske for so many years, and that he was on an administrative bail but jumped the process.

“Haske is someone we have been investigating for so many years. He is on administrative bail but he jumped the proce,ss and we declared him wanted. How can anybody be insinuating that?” he told the media outlet.

Oyewole, had in the official notice, he signed declaring Haske wanted urged members of the public with helpful information about Haske’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or any of the commission’s offices nationwide.

The notice appealed to Nigerians to assist in tracking him (Haske) down by providing credible information through its offices in major cities, including Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

It also noted that useful information about his whereabouts could be shared via the commission’s telephone line or email address.

The notice reads, “The public is hereby notified that Abdullahi Bashir Haske, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.”

“Haske, 38, whose photograph was released by the anti-graft agency, was last known to reside at No 6, Mosley Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and 952/953 Idejo Street, Victoria Island.”