The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed insinuations that its decision to declare Abdullahi Bashir Haske, businessman and son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wanted is politically motivated or linked to Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambition.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale described the claims as “rubbish,” insisting Haske had been under investigation for years.
“Haske is someone we have been investigating for so many years. He was on administrative bail but jumped the process, so we declared him wanted. How can anybody be insinuating politics in this?” Oyewale said.
Haske, founder of AA & R Investment Group, is wanted for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering. He was earlier detained, with his passport seized to stop him from fleeing, but reportedly escaped using another passport.
In a public notice, EFCC urged Nigerians with useful information on Haske’s whereabouts to contact its offices nationwide or report to the nearest police station.
The development follows growing outrage over a ₦5.7 billion consultancy contract allegedly awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to Haske’s firm without due process.
Civil society groups accused NNPCL of “looting in broad daylight” and demanded the resignation of its Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari. They also condemned a luxury management retreat in Kigali, Rwanda — allegedly coordinated by Haske — where top executives reportedly flew in five chartered private jets and booked out the entire Kigali Marriott Hotel.
The scandal has intensified scrutiny on NNPCL, which is already under the Senate’s radar over questionable audited accounts.
