Money Laundering: EFCC Declares Atiku’s Son-in-Law, Bashir-Haske, Wanted
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Abdullahi Bashir-Haske, a businessman and son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wanted over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
The Commission, in a statement issued on Friday and signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, called on members of the public with useful information about Haske’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or any EFCC office nationwide.
His photograph and last known residential addresses in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, Lagos, were also made public by the anti-graft agency.
Haske, 38, is the founder and Group Managing Director of AA&R Investment Group, a company with investments spanning energy, oil and gas services, infrastructure, and aviation.
Over the years, he has risen to prominence in the Nigerian energy sector, securing significant deals and being linked to transactions involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
However, his rapid rise and influence have continued to draw scrutiny, particularly from regulators and investigators concerned with transparency in financial dealings.
Although the EFCC’s official notice did not disclose the full details of the case, reports suggest that Haske has been under investigation for months.
According to Reports, the businessman had previously been detained and had his international passport seized by investigators, but he allegedly managed to escape using a second passport that was not initially disclosed to authorities.
The Commission has yet to confirm this claim, leaving it unverified.
The development has attracted heightened attention given Haske’s family ties to Atiku Abubakar, a prominent opposition leader and former presidential candidate.
Observers say the declaration may further fuel political debates in the country, especially as the EFCC continues its clampdown on high-profile individuals accused of financial crimes.
In its appeal, the EFCC assured that all information provided by the public would be treated with utmost confidentiality and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that individuals facing allegations of corruption are brought to justice, regardless of their political or business connections.
At the time of filing this report, Haske’s whereabouts remain unknown, but sources within the anti-graft agency disclosed that efforts are ongoing to track him both locally and internationally.
Legal analysts note that the EFCC could seek an international arrest warrant if evidence confirms that he fled Nigeria illegally. The case is expected to remain in public focus in the coming days as investigators intensify their search and political stakeholders continue to react to the unfolding development.
