Atiku’s son-in-law hunt: Presidency backs EFCC

Mugshot of Haske

The Presidency has thrown its weight behind the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the anti-graft agency declared Abdullahi Haske, businessman and son-in-law to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wanted over alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

Haske, founder of AA & R Investment Group, was placed on EFCC’s wanted list after allegedly breaching the terms of his administrative bail and failing to honour invitations by the commission.

According to an insider in EFCC, the businessman has been under investigation for some months over alleged corruption and disappeared after securing bail.

“His case with the EFCC has been ongoing for some time, and he was duly invited. He is facing corruption allegations but failed to comply with the conditions of his administrative bail.

“He was expected to report regularly to the commission as investigations progressed, but since securing bail, he has gone into hiding.

“He would not have been declared wanted if he had remained in the country and honoured our invitations. His refusal to appear is the reason the EFCC had to declare him wanted,” the source said.

In a notice signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC urged members of the public with information on Haske’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or any of its offices nationwide.

The agency listed his last known addresses in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, Lagos, and provided contact numbers and an email for tips.

Haske’s company, AA & R Investment Group, with interests in energy, agribusiness, logistics, and ICT, had earlier been linked to investigations involving alleged multimillion-dollar transfers from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

Reacting to the development, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, alleged political persecution, claiming that the investigation could be an attempt by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to target opposition figures.