The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar wanted, alleging that he fled from custody after being granted medical treatment.
The revelation was made by EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, during a live interview on Nigeria Info FM on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. According to him, the individual in question was taken into custody by the commission but later absconded after being allowed medical access at the National Hospital, Abuja.
Oyewale explained, “This fellow that you are talking about, by July 24, he was in our custody. He suddenly took ill and he was rushed to the National Hospital, you know, but when he got to the National Hospital, we allowed him independence, we allowed him free medical treatment on the understanding, going by the terms of the administrative bail, that he will come back to continue with the matter. He ran away. He made himself incommunicado. He ran away. We could not find him.”
On claims that Interpol declined to assist the EFCC over political concerns, Oyewale dismissed the reports as false. “The Interpol never said that. What the EFCC is doing is a concussion, a fabrication, a manipulation of what never happened. There is no way the Interpol can say that we work together. If you declare a suspect wanted, is it not for the entire international community? … It was just a fabrication, a figment of imagination or some idle minds,” he stated.
The EFCC spokesman stressed that the case was not politically motivated but based strictly on evidence. “Our issue is that, do we have a case? Are there facts or grounds? Those are the issues. It doesn’t matter whose ox is gored. What is important is the genuineness, the authenticity of the cases that is on trial,” he added.
Oyewale maintained that the suspect remains wanted and challenged him to come forward. “If you say that, oh, I am available, oh, you declare me wanted, bring yourself here, make yourself answerable to the people that have declared you wanted. It’s a very simple matter. Has he come? Have we seen him? No,” he concluded.
