THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, over allegations of massive financial irregularities involving cash withdrawals amounting to ₦189 billion.
The anti-graft agency is investigating claims that the funds were withdrawn in breach of the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which places strict limits on cash transactions and imposes severe penalties for non-compliance.
According to a reliable source within the EFCC, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, Tambuwal arrived at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja at approximately 11:30 am on Monday, where he was immediately ushered into a private interrogation room. As of press time, the former governor was still being questioned by a team of senior investigators.
Although the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, declined to confirm or deny the arrest, multiple sources within the agency indicated that the questioning is connected to large-scale cash withdrawals allegedly carried out during Tambuwal’s tenure as governor.
The withdrawals, said to have occurred between 2015 and 2023, reportedly bypassed banking protocols and were made without adherence to cashless policy guidelines.
Investigators believe the transactions may have been designed to conceal the movement of public funds, a key red flag under anti-money laundering regulations.
Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and a two-term governor of Sokoto State, is one of several high-profile political figures recently invited by the EFCC over financial dealings during their time in office.
The latest action by the EFCC is seen by some political observers as part of a broader push to enforce financial accountability and curb public sector corruption.
As at the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not issued an official statement on the outcome of the interrogation, and it remains unclear whether the former governor will be released on administrative bail or held pending further investigation.
