Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State, has finally spoken about his arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Recall that the anti-graft agency had earlier detained the former governor in Abuja over alleged fraudulent withdrawal of cash to the tune of N189 billion.
Upon his return to Sokoto on Thursday, Tambuwal addressed his supporters. He said he was first invited by EFCC, stating that he went voluntarily to their office on August 6.
According to him, after initial rounds of questioning, the agency allowed him to go but he was asked to report back on August 10 and 11 for further questioning.
He stated that after hours of interrogation during the follow-up visit, his legal team requested that he should be allowed to return home but the EFCC officials insisted that he must produce two sureties.
Tambuwal said the EFCC insisted that the sureties must be directors in the Federal Civil Service with letters of introduction from their employers.
“I told them to go back and tell the chairman of the EFCC that I am a former Speaker of the House of Representatives with an unblemished record, a two-term Governor of Sokoto State, a serving Senator, and a Commander of the Order of the Niger. I should be allowed to go on self-recognition”, he said.
The former House of Rep Speaker said that despite the appeals, the EFCC operatives refused to vary the bail conditions but opted to detain him until the bail conditions were met the following day.
Tambuwal stated that his detention was politically motivated, however, he emphasised that he cannot be intimidated.
“I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be blackmailed. No one can tarnish my records.
“In Nigeria today, there are two lines: those with Bola Tinubu and his government, and those with the people of Nigeria. We chose to stand with the people,” he said.
