KADUNA – A coalition of Northern youth organizations has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a political weapon to intimidate and silence opposition voices, particularly from Nigeria’s northern region.
The groups, under the aegis of the Coalition of Northern Youth Groups, leveled the allegation during a press conference on Sunday at Arewa House in Kaduna. They claimed the EFCC’s recent actions against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and other Northern leaders amount to political persecution.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Mohamed, the coalition stated: “The conduct of the EFCC in recent weeks reflects a disturbing pattern of institutional bias and selective justice, which has become a defining feature of the current administration.”
“We firmly believe President Bola Tinubu is orchestrating this malicious campaign against Abubakar Malami, his family, associates, and other opposition leaders with the clear intention of intimidating dissent and steering Nigeria toward a dangerous one-party state,” the statement continued.
The coalition accused the anti-graft agency of “institutional bias” and “selective justice,” arguing that it has turned a blind eye to corruption allegations involving some Southern political figures close to the presidency.
“We are witnessing open double standards. While Northern opposition figures are being hounded and humiliated, others like Betta Edu, Nyesom Wike, and Ifeanyi Okowa, who also face corruption allegations, walk free without any harassment,” Mohamed said.
The coalition alleged that Malami’s family members have been subjected to “relentless intimidation” and called for their immediate release, alongside other opposition politicians currently in EFCC custody.
The group also accused the Tinubu administration of harboring “deep-seated hostility” toward the North, citing recent economic policies—particularly the approval of food crop imports—which they claim have crippled local agriculture and worsened poverty in Northern communities.
“This administration’s actions go beyond political persecution. The North is being economically strangled. Farmers are suffering because imported crops have flooded the markets, destroying local productivity,” the coalition added.
The coalition demanded an end to what it described as “selective justice” and urged the EFCC to operate fairly and independently, without political interference.
It reaffirmed its support for Malami and other Northern leaders “facing persecution” and called for unity among Northerners to “defend their leaders, dignity, and collective interests.”
“Without the North, President Tinubu the 2023 presidential election,” a representative declared. “The majority of his votes came from the North, and we will not allow our region to be marginalized or our leaders destroyed through intimidation.”
The coalition’s statement concluded with a warning that the continued persecution of Northern opposition figures could deepen regional tensions and undermine national unity.
