By Abiola Olawale
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly seized the international passport of former governor of Sokoto State, and a current Senator, Aminu Tambuwal, after granting him.an administrative bail.
The seizure of Tambuwal’s international passport implies that he wouldn’t be able to travel outside Nigeria unless the EFCC releases his passport.
Tambuwal’s release reportedly followed intense questioning over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals totaling N189 billion.
The New Diplomat’s checks revealed that the anti-graft agency, however, reportedly withheld his passport as investigations into the high-profile case continue.
Tambuwal, who served as Sokoto State Governor from 2015 to 2023 and previously as Speaker of the House of Representatives, was reportedly summoned to the EFCC’s Abuja headquarters on Monday, August 11, 2025, arriving around 11:30 a.m.
It was gathered that Tambuwal, during the detention, faced extensive interrogation regarding allegations surrounding suspicious withdrawals allegedly made during his tenure, which the EFCC purportedly claimed violated the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
After spending a night in custody, Tambuwal was released on Tuesday, August 12, after meeting bail conditions described as “not stringent” by agency sources.
An EFCC source confided in The New Diplomat thus: “He has been released on administrative bail after fulfilling all conditions. His passport remains with us as the investigation is ongoing.”
The allegations stem from suspected financial misconduct involving N189 billion, which the EFCC is probing for potential breaches of anti-money laundering laws.
