The President Bola Tinubu-led government has told former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, that “no one is above the law” while reacting to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) manhunt for businessman, Abdullahi Bashir Haske, the founder of AA & R Investment Group and son-in-law to Atiku.
Haske had been declared wanted by the EFCC for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
“There is no harassment or victimisation here, only the independent and lawful operation of Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions. No one is above the law,” he told PUNCH.
Dare claimed that Tinubu’s administration was committed to strengthening the rule of law and ensuring due process, contrasting it with past governments that allegedly weaponised state institutions for political witch-hunts.
Speaking further, the President’s spokesman said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is carrying out its statutory duties, as expected of every agency under the law.
“President Bola Tinubu does not abuse the powers of his office, unlike those who once weaponised state institutions for political witch-hunts. This administration is committed to strengthening the rule of law, ensuring due process, and expediting investigations and prosecutions backed by credible evidence.”
SaharaReporters exclusively reported that Haske was earlier questioned and detained by authorities, with his passport seized to prevent him from fleeing.
He, however, managed to escape using another passport.
“The EFCC took one of his passport but he escaped with another passport,” a top source privy to the investigation told SaharaReporters on Friday.
In a notice signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency called on members of the public with useful information on Haske’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or any EFCC office nationwide.
It said, “The public is hereby notified that Abdullahi Bashir Haske, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Criminal Conspiracy and Money Laundering.
“Abdullahi is 38 years old and his last known address is: No 6 Mosley Road Ikoyi, Lagos State; 952/953 Idejo Street Victoria Island, Lagos State.
“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: info@efcc.gov.ng or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”
In June, a group under the banner Coalition of Nigerian Patriots for Good Governance announced a planned protest over the alleged N5.7billion fraudulent consultancy contract and lavish executive retreats by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) amid worsening economic hardship in the country.
The group, in an open letter signed by Musa Abdullahi, described the alleged corruption as “a loot in broad daylight” and called for the immediate sacking of NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Bayo Ojulari.
Announcing its planned nationwide advocacy protest slated for July 1–2, 2025, in demand for accountability from the highest levels of government, the group called on the EFCC to investigate the alleged fraud.
“At a time when over 200 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty, when inflation has soared, and when the government pleads for patience as painful reforms unfold, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), under the new leadership of Mr. Bayo Ojulari, has engaged in reckless, unconscionable spending of public resources,” the group stated.
At the heart of the uproar is a N5.7 billion consultancy contract allegedly awarded by NNPCL to a relatively unknown firm, HASKE, without public tender, competitive bidding, or compliance with procurement regulations.
The coalition claimed that the deal was orchestrated in secrecy, bypassing oversight mechanisms and raising serious questions about political patronage.
“HASKE has long been associated with opaque deals, political patronage, and backchannel contracts,” the group alleged.
“The company has no verifiable record of delivering high-level consultancy services, nor does it possess the industry reputation or technical competence required for such a contract.”
The group questioned, “So, why was this firm handpicked?”
According to the group, “This is not just a violation of public procurement laws, it is a calculated looting of Nigeria’s oil wealth.”
The group further argued that the funds could have been better used to address pressing national issues, such as healthcare, education, rural infrastructure, and youth employment.
The group stressed, “N5.7 billion, nearly $4 million at today’s rates, was signed away behind closed doors while hospitals go without equipment, schools lack basic infrastructure, and millions cannot afford a single meal a day.
“What could N5.7 billion do instead: build or equip 570 primary healthcare centres across rural Nigeria? Fund scholarships for over 50,000 indigent Nigerian students.
“Construct 114 kilometres of rural roads to support agriculture and commerce. Provide capital to over 10,000 young entrepreneurs to reduce unemployment.
“Yet this same sum was funneled into a phantom consultancy deal, benefiting no one but the insiders and cronies.”
In addition to the alleged contract fraud, the group accused Ojulari of organising a wasteful management retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, using five chartered private jets.
Earlier in June, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that the NNPC board was preparing to jet off to Kigali, Rwanda, for a luxury retreat.
The development came days after the Nigerian Senate raised serious questions over the company’s audited financial accounts.
SaharaReporters learned that at least five private jets had been arranged to fly members of the NNPC board and top management to the Rwandan capital. The trip, sources revealed, was being coordinated by Bashir Haske.
The board, led by Chairman Ahmadu Musa Kida, and under the management of Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Bayo Ojulari, had booked the entire Kigali Marriott Hotel, an upscale resort nestled in the Rwandan hills, for the retreat.
