MURIC Warns EFCC Over Atiku Probe, Says Timing Could Heighten Political Tension

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.