The decision by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to declare Abdullahi Bashir Haske, businessman and son-in-law to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wanted has triggered a heated dispute between the agency and his lawyers.
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On Friday, the EFCC issued a public notice, releasing Haske’s photograph and personal details while calling on Nigerians to provide information about his whereabouts. The agency accused the 38-year-old founder of AA&R Investment Group of criminal conspiracy and money laundering, linking him to questionable contracts involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
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The move, however, was swiftly condemned by Haske’s legal team, who described it as unlawful. Lead counsel Nkemakolam Okoro said the EFCC ignored a pending motion before the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the arrest warrant earlier secured against his client. He argued that the commission acted in “blatant illegality and abuse of process,” stressing that Haske had previously honoured EFCC invitations and submitted medical records after suffering health complications in detention.
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The lawyers maintained that the warrant issued on August 8 was strictly for an arrest and did not authorize declaring Haske wanted. They insisted that the EFCC should have attempted to execute the arrest and reported back to the court instead of bypassing due process.
“The matter is now before the Federal High Court for determination,” the legal team noted, adding that the case will test the judiciary’s ability to protect citizens from arbitrary use of prosecutorial powers.
But the EFCC dismissed claims of political undertones and defended its action. Its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, told Daily Trust that Haske had been under investigation for years and violated the terms of his administrative bail. “He jumped the process and we declared him wanted. How can anybody be insinuating otherwise?” he said.
The clash between Haske’s camp and the EFCC has now set the stage for a high-profile legal battle that could shape how far anti-graft agencies can go in exercising their powers against politically connected individuals.
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