Tinubu Govt Backs EFCC Hunt For Atiku Son-in-Law

The Presidency has thrown its weight behind the manhunt launched by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against Abdullahi Bashir Haske, a businessman linked to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar through marriage.

Haske, the founder of AA & R Investment Group, is wanted over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

The government, speaking through the Presidency, maintained that no citizen is above the law and described the EFCC’s move as part of its legal mandate to tackle corruption. Authorities said the case should not be viewed as political harassment but as an example of Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies carrying out their duties.

The EFCC revealed that Haske was earlier questioned and had one of his passports seized but managed to escape using another travel document. He has since been declared wanted, with the agency urging the public to provide useful information that could lead to his arrest. His last known addresses were listed in Lagos.

The controversy comes amid a wider storm over alleged shady contracts linked to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. In June, a coalition of civil society groups accused NNPCL of awarding a N5.7 billion consultancy contract to Haske’s firm without due process. The group condemned the deal as a misuse of public funds at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with poverty and inflation.

The coalition argued that the contract bypassed procurement regulations and raised suspicions of political patronage. It claimed the company had no track record of providing major consultancy services and described the deal as an outright looting of oil wealth. The group further said the money could have been used to build health centres, improve schools, create rural roads, or fund youth empowerment schemes.

Concerns over wasteful spending deepened after reports that NNPCL executives, under Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari, held a management retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, using five chartered private jets. The retreat, reportedly coordinated by Haske, saw the board lodge at a luxury hotel, sparking outrage given Nigeria’s deepening economic hardships.

The EFCC has now placed Haske on its wanted list, calling on Nigerians to assist in tracking him down as investigations into both the alleged contract fraud and money laundering charges continue. The case is expected to test the government’s stated commitment to strengthening institutions and upholding the rule of law.