A coalition of northern youth groups has demanded the immediate release of Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation, accusing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of selective justice and political persecution.
The group made the demand at a press conference on Monday, alleging that the anti-graft agency was being used to target northern opposition figures under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Mohammed Ibrahim, chairman of the coalition, said the treatment of Malami and his family members amounted to intimidation rather than a genuine anti-corruption effort.
“What is unfolding before Nigerians is not a fight against corruption, but deliberate persecution and intimidation of respected northern opposition figures,” Ibrahim said.
The coalition alleged that recent EFCC actions were aimed at silencing dissent and weakening opposition voices in northern Nigeria.
“The Tinubu administration of orchestrating a campaign against Malami as part of a broader plan to intimidate critics and entrench a one-party system. They are using the EFCC to sillence critics,” Ibrahim said.
The group condemned what it described as harassment of Malami’s family members, saying such actions were unacceptable in a democratic society.
The coalition further alleged double standards in the anti-graft war, claiming that while Malami and other northern opposition figures were being aggressively pursued, some southern political figures facing corruption allegations had not received similar treatment.
It cited Betta Edu, former minister of humanitarian affairs; Nyesom Wike, former Rivers governor; Ifeanyi Okowa, former Delta governor; and Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, as examples.
The group challenged the EFCC to investigate corruption allegations without regard to political affiliation or region.
It also claimed to be aware of alleged plans to arrest other prominent northern opposition figures, including Nasir el-Rufai, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Jibrilla Bindow, former Adamawa governor.
According to the coalition, such actions are part of a strategy to weaken an emerging opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
The youth groups also accused the federal government of pursuing policies they said were worsening poverty in the north, including the importation of food crops allegedly produced in large quantities in the region.
They demanded the immediate release of Malami, an end to what they described as harassment of his family members, and the release of all opposition figures currently detained by the EFCC.
The coalition also called on the EFCC to end selective justice and ensure that corruption cases are investigated and prosecuted fairly and transparently across all regions and political parties.
