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“I Am Not On The Run” – Atiku’s Son-In-Law Responds To EFCC Allegations
A businessman and son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he is evading arrest, following the agency’s declaration that he is wanted over alleged multi-million-dollar money laundering.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The EFCC, in a notice released last Thursday, named Haske in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering tied to contracts with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). According to the anti-graft agency, funds traced to several accounts linked to Haske are part of its ongoing investigation.
In a statement through his media office, Haske described the EFCC’s action as “politically motivated” and an attempt to tarnish his reputation. “I am not on the run. I am committed to clearing my name and cooperating with lawful investigations. All I ask is that the EFCC conducts its duties within the rule of law and without political interference,” he said.
Haske stated that he had previously honored the EFCC’s invitation, appeared before investigators, and provided both oral and documentary evidence validating the legitimacy of his financial dealings. He also accused the EFCC of misconduct, claiming he was denied administrative bail despite meeting the conditions.
“I was unlawfully detained until my health deteriorated, leading to a near-collapse in custody. It is therefore shocking and disingenuous for EFCC to now claim I am ‘running away’ when they are fully aware that my health crisis resulted from their own actions,” he added.
According to Haske, his release followed concerns for his survival due to his worsening medical condition, and he is currently receiving treatment.
He emphasized that he has no political ambitions and condemned attempts to link his marital ties to political controversies. Haske also accused the EFCC of trying to misuse Interpol for political purposes, noting that the international agency had repeatedly affirmed it would not involve itself in politically motivated cases.
On Wednesday, human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja under tight security. Reports indicate that Department of State Services (DSS) operatives restricted access to the courtroom, preventing lawyers, supporters, and associates of the activist from entering.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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Public Access Challenged: Oshiok Philip, the National Secretary of the AAC, confronted the security officials, arguing that the courtroom is a public space and asserting that blocking citizens from observing legal proceedings violates constitutional rights.
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Criticism of the Agency: During the exchange, Philip cautioned the DSS against allowing the agency to be utilized as a tool against dissenting voices.
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Heightened Security: Operatives reportedly established a security perimeter around the courtroom, restricted public movement, and engaged in the intimidation of some of Sowore’s supporters.
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Context of Ongoing Tensions: This event followed a ruling two days prior by Justice Mohammed Umar, which ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
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Allegations of Force: Supporters and AAC members expressed outrage following reports that armed DSS operatives had forcibly removed Sowore from the courtroom on Monday while he was waiting for correctional officials, characterizing the actions as lawless and an affront to due process.
The Dangote Refinery has issued a formal denial regarding accusations that it exports petroleum products to Lomé, Togo, only for them to be re-imported into Nigeria. In a statement released Tuesday, the company dismissed these claims as an “ill-motivated web of falsehoods,” noting that it usually ignores baseless allegations but felt compelled to address this specific narrative for the record.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The refinery highlighted the following key points in its rebuttal:
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Commercial Illogic: The company stated that the idea of shipping products to Togo and back to Nigeria lacks both commercial sense and supporting trade flow data. It noted that the added expenses for shipping, storage, handling, and financing—estimated at $82 to $90 per metric tonne—would eliminate profit margins, making such a strategy financially unattractive.
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Core Objectives: Facilitating imports that compete directly with its own output would contradict the refinery’s primary goal of serving as a leading supplier for the Nigerian market.
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Contractual Prohibitions: The refinery’s sales contracts and tender terms explicitly forbid the resale or re-importation of its products into Nigeria.
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Traceability and Compliance: Dangote Refinery maintains rigorous records of all product sales, including details on vessels, counterparties, and destinations, asserting that any claim of knowingly facilitating re-importation contradicts its established compliance procedures.
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Strategic Alignment: The company emphasized that these allegations clash with its consistent advocacy for reducing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign fuel imports, which it argues burdens foreign exchange reserves and hinders local industrial growth.
Ultimately, the refinery concluded that there is no strategic or economic justification for such practices, reaffirming that the allegations are unsupported by the economics of the trade or its own internal controls.
Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is facing scrutiny following reports that he bypassed several summons from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding a certificate forgery probe. The investigation centers on allegations that Nnaji utilized fraudulent academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials during his 2023 ministerial screening, a matter brought to light after a two-year investigation by Premium Times into his documents from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the NYSC.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Following his failure to respond to these summons, the ICPC reportedly initiated a search for the former minister, eventually securing an order from the Federal High Court in Abuja for his arrest to ensure he cooperates with the investigation.
Nnaji’s Response Prior to the court-ordered arrest, Nnaji publicly denied the existence of an ICPC investigation and alleged that the reports were politically motivated, blaming the Enugu State Government for spreading falsehoods. “Is it not me here? Where is the ICPC?” Nnaji stated, dismissing the claims.
Documented Invitations Contrary to the former minister’s denials, documentation obtained by Premium Times confirms formal efforts by the ICPC to reach him. A May 15 letter from the Head of the Chairman’s Special Task Force, Usman Ahmed, formally requested Nnaji’s presence at the Abuja headquarters on May 20, 2026. Because investigators could not locate him, the invitation was transmitted via email, text message, and WhatsApp.
After Nnaji did not appear for the initial interview, the commission moved the date to June 3, 2026, advising him to attend in the interest of a fair hearing. He reportedly failed to appear for this second appointment as well, leading the ICPC to seek the court-sanctioned arrest warrant. As of now, the ICPC has not released a formal public statement, and Nnaji continues to maintain his innocence.
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