The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has shed light on why it declared Abdullahi Haske, a businessman and son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wanted.
The commission dismissed claims suggesting that the move was politically motivated due to Haske’s connection with the former vice president, who is eyeing the 2027 presidential race.
Speaking on Friday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale described such claims as “rubbish,” insisting that Haske had been under investigation for years. According to Oyewale, Haske was granted administrative bail but failed to comply with its terms.
“Haske is someone we have been investigating for so many years. He is on administrative bail but he jumped the process and we declared him wanted. How can anybody be insinuating that?” Oyewale said.
On Thursday evening, the EFCC issued an official notice declaring Haske wanted over alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering. The agency appealed to the public to provide credible information about his whereabouts, asking that tips be reported to the nearest police station or any EFCC office nationwide.
The notice, signed by Oyewale, listed EFCC offices in major cities — including Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja — as places where information could be submitted.
“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,” the statement read.
“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.”
The EFCC also shared its telephone line and email address for members of the public willing to assist in tracking him down.
(DAILY TRUST)