Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, accusing them of straying from their mandate and turning the fight against corruption into what he described as a political witch-hunt.

In a statement issued by his media office on Thursday, Atiku warned that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies risk losing public trust unless they purge themselves of partisan influence.

His comments followed the arrest and detention of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN). EFCC sources confirmed Malami remains in custody after failing to meet bail conditions, with investigators probing him for 18 offences including money laundering, abuse of office, and terrorism financing.

Atiku alleged that the EFCC has abandoned its founding principles and is now being used to target opposition figures. He described the agency’s actions as selective, claiming it ignores corruption cases involving ruling party allies while pursuing opposition leaders such as Malami and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

“The politicisation of corruption investigations has rendered the EFCC’s credibility suspect and rubbished the ideals that inspired its establishment,” Atiku said.

He further argued that Malami would not have been targeted if he had defected to the APC, insisting that partisan loyalty has overshadowed integrity.

Atiku warned that undermining the independence of anti-graft institutions for political purposes threatens Nigeria’s credibility in fighting corruption. He urged EFCC leadership to detach itself from political interference, stressing that the stakes are too high to compromise institutional integrity for partisan gains.