The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reconsider the timing of its reported renewed investigation into allegations involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, warning that the move could heighten political tension ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made the appeal in a statement issued on Friday, October 16, 2026, arguing that anti-corruption investigations involving prominent opposition figures must be handled in a manner that protects public confidence in the impartiality of law enforcement agencies.

Akintola said the organisation was concerned that revisiting allegations dating back nearly two decades during a politically sensitive period could create suspicions of selective prosecution, particularly if similar cases involving other influential individuals were not receiving comparable attention.

He urged the commission not to take steps that could inflame political passions or deepen divisions in an already tense political environment.

“It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good. We warn that reopening the case file of a presidential candidate at this time could inflame passions. EFCC should not heat up the polity,” he said.

The controversy followed reports that the EFCC had received a petition from former House of Representatives member Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, who is seeking a renewed investigation and possible prosecution of Atiku over alleged financial crimes linked to investigations conducted in 2006.

Reports published on October 14 by Nigerian media outlets said Agbonayinma submitted the petition through his lawyer, Chief Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN. The petition was dated August 27 and reportedly received by the commission on September 1, 2026.

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Agbonayinma subsequently visited the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, on October 12, where he reportedly adopted the petition and answered questions from investigators.

The former lawmaker asked the commission to revisit its September 2006 investigation report involving Atiku, as well as a report issued on February 4, 2010, by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Agbonayinma has argued that the allegations deserve renewed scrutiny and that public officials should be held accountable under the law, regardless of their political status. He also disclosed that he had petitioned United States President Donald Trump over the matter.

However, the reported developments do not, on their own, establish that the EFCC has formally decided to prosecute Atiku. The commission’s spokesperson had not publicly provided a detailed response on the status of the investigation in the reports reviewed.

Akintola said MURIC was not opposed to the investigation or prosecution of corruption allegations where evidence justified legal action. Rather, he maintained that the EFCC must demonstrate consistency and fairness in its treatment of suspects, irrespective of political affiliation, religion or social standing.

“MURIC is not encouraging corrupt practices. Neither are we saying the law must not take its due course. What we are saying is that there should be a level playing field. All alleged fraud offenders should be given equal treatment,” he said.

The MURIC director questioned why the case was attracting renewed attention at this stage, given the age of the allegations and Atiku’s long-standing involvement in presidential politics.

“Where was EFCC since all these years? Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s case file has always been in EFCC’s cabinet since 2006,” Akintola said.

He warned that any arrest or detention of a major opposition candidate during the election period could trigger public backlash and potentially strengthen support for the politician concerned.

According to him, the detention of opposition figures does not necessarily weaken their political standing. He cited the experiences of international figures, including Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, as examples of politicians whose periods of imprisonment did not permanently diminish their public appeal.

Akintola also referred to Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi and India’s Jawaharlal Nehru while arguing that the political consequences of detaining prominent figures can be unpredictable.

He cautioned that if the EFCC’s actions were widely perceived as an attempt to weaken the opposition, the controversy could create difficulties for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He did not, however, provide evidence that the reported investigation was politically motivated.

The MURIC director said Nigeria, which continues to face serious security challenges, should avoid political developments that could further strain national stability.

Invoking the Latin maxim “Si vis pacem, para bellum,” meaning “If you want peace, prepare for war,” he warned that actions perceived as political persecution could create an atmosphere of confrontation rather than encourage peaceful competition.

“Arresting any presidential candidate at this time will be a wrong strategy. It will look as if we are preparing for war. But that is not what our dear country needs at this time because we are fighting one already,” he said.

Akintola also defended MURIC’s decision to speak on the matter, saying the organisation’s commitment to human rights and justice extended to all Nigerians, regardless of their political or religious affiliations.

He said Atiku was entitled to the protection of his fundamental rights like any other citizen, while stressing that the organisation would similarly oppose unfair treatment of non-Muslim politicians.

Citing the Qur’an, Akintola said the obligation to uphold justice applied even when doing so conflicted with personal interests or those of relatives. He described MURIC’s intervention as consistent with its motto, “Dialogue, Not Violence.”

The organisation called on the EFCC to ensure that any further action in the matter was guided by evidence, due process and equal application of the law.

“The best advice we can give EFCC is to rethink the reopening of Atiku’s file. Nigerians are not fools. Nobody will believe that opening Atiku’s file at this time is procedural,” Akintola said.

He added: “EFCC should close politicians’ files for now. Let Nigeria breathe, please.”

The dispute places renewed scrutiny on the balance between pursuing alleged financial crimes and maintaining public confidence in the independence of anti-corruption institutions during an election cycle. While MURIC has questioned the timing of the reported investigation, the allegations against Atiku remain allegations and should not be treated as established wrongdoing without a judicial determination.

A Catholic priest, Reverend Father John Inalegwu Otache, has been abducted by unidentified gunmen along the Otobi Amejo-Ajegbe Road in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, prompting a police investigation and efforts to secure his release.

Otache, the parish priest of St Margaret’s Catholic Parish, Ajegbe-Awume, was reportedly kidnapped on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, while returning home from Otukpo.

The Catholic Diocese of Otukpo confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its Diocesan Chancellor, Reverend Father Joseph Itodo, expressing sadness over the abduction and appealing for prayers for the priest’s safe return.

The Bishop of Otukpo Diocese, Most Reverend Michael Ekwoyi Apochi, was said to be deeply distressed by the development and called on priests, religious members, Catholic faithful and other well-meaning Nigerians to pray for Otache’s speedy and safe release.

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The diocese also appealed for prayers for other people being held by kidnappers across the country.

Confirming the incident on Friday, the Benue State Police Command said it had commenced a full investigation into the abduction.

The police spokesperson, DSP Aondogu Orchia, said efforts were ongoing to locate the priest and secure his release.

As of Friday, October 16, there had been no official announcement confirming that Otache had been rescued.

Reports also indicated that this was the second time a priest serving at St Margaret’s Parish in Ajegbe-Awume had been abducted, raising further concerns about the safety of clergy and other residents in the area.

The latest incident comes amid wider security concerns in Benue State, where communities have faced attacks, kidnappings and other violent incidents. The Catholic Diocese of Gboko recently ordered the closure of several church-run institutions in Ihugh following repeated security threats.

Although the developments have heightened concern over the safety of religious personnel and church institutions in the state, authorities have not established a connection between the separate incidents.

The police have urged the public to support lawful efforts to address insecurity as the investigation and search for the abducted priest continue.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed multiple pumping machines to drain water around the submerged wreckage of its ATR 42-500 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, as recovery teams intensify efforts to reach the main body of the plane that crashed on October 5, killing all 25 people on board.

The operation has been complicated by the depth of the wreckage, heavy mud and difficult underwater terrain in the swampy area of Ilaje Local Government Area, where the aircraft went down during a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos.

In a statement issued on Friday, October 16, and signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, the Air Force described the deployment of pumping equipment as a significant step towards accessing the main wreckage and advancing recovery operations.

The military said the aircraft remained deeply embedded in the riverbed, making it difficult for recovery personnel to reach the submerged sections and retrieve the remaining wreckage safely.

The pumping operation is part of a wider, multi-agency effort involving the NAF, specialist divers from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB). The teams have also employed hydrographic surveys, satellite-based search imagery and mud excavation to identify and access areas of interest.

Additional aircraft components have already been recovered, but the authorities have not announced the complete recovery of the main fuselage or all materials required for the ongoing investigation.

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The aircraft, designated NAF 931, crashed near the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda after air traffic controllers lost contact with it at about 9:13am on October 5.

The NAF subsequently confirmed that all 25 people aboard — five crew members and 20 passengers — died in the accident. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The prolonged recovery operation has also heightened concerns among residents of Igbokoda about the possible environmental impact of the crash site, particularly the safety of local water sources.

Community members have complained about a persistent foul smell around the area, while local leaders have expressed fears that decomposing remains and possible aviation fuel contamination could affect the river system used by residents.

The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Afolabi Odidiomo, has called for urgent environmental intervention, warning that the river system is connected to a water treatment facility in Aboto, about seven kilometres away.

The concerns have added urgency to calls for the recovery of the remaining wreckage and appropriate environmental checks. However, the extent of any contamination has not been conclusively established in the reports available.

The Air Force said Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal MC Ekwueme, visited Igbokoda on the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to engage community leaders and residents over their concerns.

During the visit, Ekwueme acknowledged the complaints and assured residents that the NAF would work to address the issues through appropriate channels.

The service also thanked community members for their patience and cooperation as personnel and partner agencies continue working under difficult conditions.

The Chief of the Air Staff has also reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to supporting the families of those who died in the crash.

According to the NAF statement, applicable entitlements, including benevolent funds, scholarships for eligible children and other approved welfare benefits, would be processed for affected families.

The service said it remained in contact with the bereaved families and had established a dedicated helpline at its headquarters to provide information about the incident and available support.

Meanwhile, the recovery teams are expected to continue working to retrieve the remaining wreckage and relevant materials that could help investigators establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The NAF pledged to sustain the operation, support affected families and provide verified updates as significant developments emerge.