₦airaland Forum

The International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol, has said it would not honour a wanted alert issued by Nigeria’s discredited anti-graft agency, EFCC, against Bashir Haske, a Lagos businessman and son-in-law to Nigerian opposition leader Atiku Abubakar.

The organisation, which has a peculiar reputation for tracking down outlaws on behalf of its member countries around the world, said its constitution prohibits targeting people on political subtexts.

“Please note that Interpol has no plans to help member countries to advance politically-motivated cases,” the France-based institution said in a Friday morning statement to Peoples Gazette, adding that it was aware that Mr Abubakar is the Nigerian opposition leader. Mr Abubakar, a former vice president, was the main opposition candidate in the 2023 presidential elections. He recently played a key role in forming a new opposition coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.

“Please note that INTERPOL will only issue a Red Notice if it complies with the organisation’s rules and Constitution, which notably forbids INTERPOL from issuing a Notice on political, religious, racial or military grounds,” the e-mailed statement added. The global law enforcement body also said member countries exercise control over criminal targets, and its headquarters in Lyon will only honour requests that comply with its stringent regulations to preserve people’s fundamental rights.

Citing a probe into purported money laundering activities, the EFCC declared Mr Haske wanted on Thursday night despite a federal court order against such moves. Peoples Gazette learnt that the EFCC has continued to target Mr Haske as part of efforts to weaponise his marriage to Mr Abubakar’s daughter in an attempt to take control of Nigeria’s state-run oil company, NNPC.

The Gazette had, on August 2, exposed how the EFCC’s administration, under its controversial chairman, Ola Olukoyede, tried to force leadership change at the NNPC by seizing its CEO, Bayo Ojulari, and forcing him to sign a dubious letter of resignation. The letter was later rendered mute after First Lady Remi Tinubu intervened, neutralising the influence of President Bola Tinubu’s mistress, Olatimbo Ayinde.

Spokespeople for Mr Haske and NNPC were not immediately available for comment about last night’s development. Mr Haske’s whereabouts remained unknown, with sources telling The Gazette he might have left the country following his brief detention last month.

Ms Ayinde, herself standing trial for bribery and corruption in the UK, has been on a relentless campaign to drive Mr Ojulari out of NNPC, and Mr Olukoyede’s EFCC is one of the state instruments she has deployed, The Gazette was told. Mr Olukoyede did not deny attempting to force Mr Ojulari out of NNPC by weaponising his ties to Mr Haske. Still, he said, The Gazette’s story put him in a bad light and demanded a retraction, which the paper immediately disavowed while standing by its story.

A spokesman for the EFCC did not immediately return a request seeking comment.

The anti-graft office has, for decades, been used by the ruling party to target political opposition in Nigeria. It began operation in 2003 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, but it has no credibility among Nigerians, who regularly mock its activities as political, lazy and corrupt.

Mr Olukoyede recently defended the agency from allegations of partisanship, despite overwhelming evidence in the public record showing the agency lacks independence and is largely incompetent in investigating cases involving the president’s brazenly corrupt alliesand other ruling party members.

Last month, another federal judge slammed the agency for often engaging in an insatiable media trial, rather than bringing cases with strong prosecutorial rigour as practised in other climes.

It was not immediately clear whether or not the EFCC had sought Interpol’s cooperation to hold Mr Haske. Still, the transnational police’s decision to promptly dismiss and dissociate itself from the controversial plot underscored the erosion of credibility for the Nigerian anti-graft authorities.

https://gazettengr.com/efccs-wanted-alert-on-atikus-son-in-law-bashir-haske-politically-motivated-we-wont-get-involved-interpol/

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/8503285/efcc-declares-abdullahi-haske-wanted

Nigeria is becoming a ridicule on the globe because of the idiots in Aso Rock.

Funny how the fools think they world doesn’t see what is going on; but they do.

Imagine Interpol refusing to honour their declaration. Chai!

Congratulations to them and all those egging them on.

Thank God the world now knows the nonsense this useless government is up to! Awon werey

Imagine the ridicule… BAT led government is nothing but a shameful administration

There's nothing Tinubu and his bunch of incompetent rogues won't do to intimidate opposition.

Their online 30k monthly stipend rogues will cry bitterly seeing this news.

Shame!! Shame on Tinubu. Shame on APC. Shame on EFCC. See how they've rubbished themselves.
But wait o! At this age Tinubu still has girlfriend? Haba!

See exposure.

29 more characters needed. 7 more characters needed

Na waooooo, so una intention Dey obvious to outsiders. Imagine how many opposition supporters that have been disciplined by such act.

These politicians are very shameless. Just see how they have exposed themselves. Look how a government is disgracing itself globally and still wondering why investors are not coming

Tueh!

It is completely finished for Tinubu and apc
Just imagine...
Declaring a son-inlaw to your political opposition wanted just because Nigerians say dey no want u 2027. Forcing all the elite to support.
This is terrible to say the least.

Tinubu is proving to be worse than Idi Amin Dada with his dictatorial tendencies

Thank God say Interpol know say APC government

What manner of sensational headline is this Seems like people’s gazette has chosen a side.
Gutter journalism

Useful country with useless leaders and people. That's Nigeria for you.

They have been coming gradually! It was tambuwa', then Atiku, before you know it, Goodluck Jonathan and then Obi!

This useless government is so afraid of opposition! They don't want any real opposition in the 2027 election!

Won't be surprised if INTERPOL denies this.


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Once giant of Africa is now giant of ridiculous.. k

nairalandkachy1:
https://gazettengr.com/efccs-wanted-alert-on-atikus-son-in-law-bashir-haske-politically-motivated-we-wont-get-involved-interpol/

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/8503285/efcc-declares-abdullahi-haske-wanted

Interpol can and would never release this crap as rejoinder!

Maybe interpol was misinformed about the name of whom was requested

You will realize they don't mean this when he is arrested

This statement self is politically motivated. Everywhere has been compromised. Interpol replied a media without official name, letter or anything to show its from them. I am sure Gazette just contacted a friend working there and had a chit-chat with them. Someone should quote me when the official interpol deny this.

Buh then, when Interpol requires assistance from our agencies to capture criminals, our agencies eagerly provide support to enhance their global standing. I think we need to start learning to be self reliant

Thunderfayamods:
Fake news! Tell me who discredited EFCC? Which country?

Oga calm down. Let thiefnubuu prepare for a free and fair election if e sure for am

This is becoming too much embarrassment to the Tinubu led government

This news is fake and we knew where it is coming from! Man must wack!

NewHe:
Interpol can and would never release this crap as rejoinder!

Once you see that the source is Peoples' Gazette, take it with a huge pinch of salt.

Mudslingers are everywhere looking for way to bring down their political opponents.When you see the ruling party going on smear campaign against opposition parties the performance of such ruling party is unquestionable.

OnionBandit:
Buh then, when Interpol requires assistance from our agencies to capture criminals, our agencies eagerly provide support to enhance their global standing. I think we need to start learning to be self reliant

This is an obvious witch-hunting and not any criminal pursuit! Even a baby in Nigeria knows this let alone a whole Interpol!

Self reliance but you're always at their doorstep begging for loans to loot

Self reliance ko
Self balablu ni

Dem don give dem food to talk against Tinubu, they are not even asking if the news is true. By the time interpol comes out tomorrow to deny it una hunger go vanish. I dey here dey wait.