The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is using anti-corruption agencies to target opposition figures.
His response followed allegations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently accused the government of weaponising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to weaken opponents ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement, Atiku warned that “anti-corruption agencies were being used to harass, intimidate, and dismantle opposition elements,” describing it as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
But speaking on Wednesday, September 3, in Abuja at the opening of the ICPC Roundtable Engagement on Agenda Setting for Strategic Integration of State Commissioners of Information in the Fight Against Corruption, Idris said the government was committed to due process.
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“Fighting corruption is indeed one of the 8-Point priorities of the Tinubu administration, and that is why the President is strengthening the institutional framework to fight corruption, especially through the ICPC and the EFCC,” Idris stated.
He added, “By its policy of non-interference, the Tinubu administration has made it clear that anti-corruption agencies are not instruments of political witch-hunt. They operate with independence and professionalism in line with the rule of law.”
The minister stressed that there will be “no safe haven for corruption in Nigeria,” pointing to ongoing judicial reforms aimed at cutting delays in corruption trials.
Idris urged state governments to support Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that “transparency and accountability constitute strong pillars of democracy and are, unarguably, at the core of President Tinubu’s grundnorm of administration.”
He also commended the ICPC, led by Dr Musa Aliyu, for adopting communication strategies that involve state and local stakeholders in spreading government policies to the grassroots.