The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has declined to honour a wanted alert issued by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Lagos businessman Bashir Haske, who is married to a daughter of opposition leader Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement on Friday, the France-based organisation explained that its constitution forbids involvement in cases that appear politically motivated.
“Interpol will not help any member country pursue politically motivated cases,” the agency said, adding that it was aware of Mr. Abubakar’s position as Nigeria’s leading opposition figure.
The EFCC had earlier declared Mr. Haske wanted for alleged money laundering despite a subsisting court order restraining the commission from taking such action.
Reports suggest the move was part of a broader political tussle, with Mr. Haske’s links to Atiku being used in a power struggle surrounding the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
Sources say Mr. Haske may have left the country after a brief detention in July. The development has further fuelled criticism of the EFCC, which has faced persistent accusations since its creation in 2003 of being deployed as a tool against political opponents.
Despite repeated denials, the agency has been dogged by claims of weak investigations, media trials, and selective prosecutions.
