The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has refused to enforce a “wanted” alert issued by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Lagos businessman Bashir Haske, who is married to the daughter of opposition leader Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement released on Friday, Interpol said its constitution strictly prohibits involvement in cases influenced by political, religious, racial, or military motives.
“Interpol will not help any member country pursue politically motivated cases,” the France-based agency stated, noting that it was fully aware of Mr. Abubakar’s role as Nigeria’s top opposition figure.
The EFCC had declared Haske wanted for alleged money laundering despite a subsisting court order restraining the anti-graft agency from taking such action. Reports suggest that the move was part of broader political pressure, with Haske’s ties to Atiku being used in an ongoing power struggle within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
Sources revealed that Mr. Haske may have left the country after a brief detention in July.
The development has intensified criticism of the EFCC, which has frequently faced accusations of serving as a political weapon against opponents since its creation in 2003. Although the agency has consistently denied such claims, it has often been accused of weak investigations, media trials, and selective prosecution.
Interpol’s swift dismissal of the alert against Haske has sparked heated debate among Nigerians, coming at a time when the EFCC is also under fire over the recent arrest of former Bauchi State governor Aminu Tambuwal.
Tambuwal, an opposition politician who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was detained last month in what activists and analysts widely described as a politically motivated move. The EFCC, however, has insisted its probe of Tambuwal is based purely on evidence and not politics.
The controversy has reignited debate about the independence of the EFCC and whether the agency can operate free from political influence in Nigeria’s volatile political climate.
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