The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a wanted notice for Abdullahi Bashir Haske, a businessman and founder of AA & R Investment Group, who is also the son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He is sought for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
Reports from Ilufoye Noah's Blog indicate that Haske had previously been questioned and detained by authorities, who also confiscated his passport to prevent him from escaping. Despite their efforts, he reportedly managed to flee using a different passport. A source close to the investigation confirmed, “The EFCC seized one of his passports, but he escaped with another.”
The EFCC, via a notice from Head of Media and Publicity Dele Oyewale, urged the public to provide information on Haske’s whereabouts, encouraging individuals to report to local police stations or any EFCC office.
In the notice, the commission specified that Abdullahi Bashir Haske, age 38, has a last known address at No 6 Mosley Road Ikoyi and 952/953 Idejo Street, Victoria Island, both in Lagos State. Any information regarding his location could be reported to any EFCC office across the country or through the specified contact methods.
In June, a group called the Coalition of Nigerian Patriots for Good Governance expressed intentions to protest against a controversial N5.7 billion consultancy contract and extravagant retreats by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), amidst increasing economic struggles. They labeled the alleged corruption “a loot in broad daylight” and demanded the immediate dismissal of NNPCL’s Group CEO, Mr. Bayo Ojulari.
The coalition revealed plans for a nationwide protest on July 1–2, 2025, calling for government accountability and urging the EFCC to investigate the alleged fraud. They criticized NNPCL for extravagant spending during a time of widespread poverty and inflation, asserting that the contract with the relatively unknown firm HASKE lacked proper public bidding and transparency, thus raising concerns of political favoritism.
The group remarked that HASKE has been linked to dubious dealings and questioned why such a firm was selected for this substantial contract, asserting that this action not only breaches procurement laws but also represents a significant theft of Nigeria's oil wealth. They argued that the funds could better serve critical national needs like healthcare and education.
They lamented that the N5.7 billion spent could have constructed or equipped numerous healthcare centers, funded scholarships, built rural roads, or supported young entrepreneurs, emphasizing the stark contrast between the luxury of the consultancy deal and the dire needs of the population.
Alongside the alleged contract misuse, the group accused Ojulari of organizing an extravagant management retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, utilizing five chartered private jets. Earlier reports indicated that the NNPC board was planning this lavish trip shortly after the Senate raised concerns regarding the company's financial audits, with sources mentioning that Bashir Haske was coordinating the arrangements for the retreat at the upscale Kigali Marriott Hotel.
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