May 10, 2025
Atiku condemns EFCC for detaining Tinubu critic Muhammad Kazaure without legal explanation or formal charges.

Atiku slams EFCC over unlawful detention of outspoken Tinubu critic Muhammad Kazaure in Abuja.

Abuja, Nigeria — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for what he described as the unlawful arrest and incommunicado detention of Tinubu critic and former lawmaker, Muhammad Kazaure.
In a strongly worded statement issued Saturday, Atiku accused the EFCC of abducting Kazaure from Kano and transferring him to Abuja without offering any formal charges or explanation to his legal counsel or family members.
Kazaure, a former representative of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency, is known for his outspoken criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“The EFCC is duty-bound to disclose the reasons for any arrest. Abducting a Tinubu critic and denying him due process is unconstitutional and unacceptable,” Atiku declared.

Parallels Drawn to VeryDarkMan Case

Atiku referenced the earlier case of social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who was also detained without clear cause before being released after public outcry.

“We are seeing a repeat of this abuse of power. The Tinubu critic, Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, has now been targeted,” Atiku said. “This trend of muzzling dissent must end.”

According to the former Vice President, such actions reveal a troubling contradiction in the Tinubu government’s posture toward the rule of law. “While powerful individuals linked to corruption are embraced, critics of the government face harassment,” he added.

A Government Silencing Dissent, Atiku Says

The statement emphasized that Kazaure’s only known offense was his vocal criticism of the Tinubu administration. Atiku described him as “unapologetically blunt” about what he called “gross misgovernance” and “constitutional delinquency” under Tinubu’s leadership.

Also Read: Shettima and Sultan Visit Imo for Road Commissioning and Pilgrim Airlift

“This government’s hypocrisy is staggering. It protects the corrupt but persecutes the critics,” he said, in direct reference to Kazaure’s treatment.

Labeling the EFCC’s actions as an “abduction,” Atiku noted that the