The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has debunked the allegations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the Federal Government is using anti-corruption agencies to sabotage political opponents ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, recently claimed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission were being used by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to harass, intimidate, and dismantle opposition elements, warning that such actions pose a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Mohammed Idris, while speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the opening of the ICPC Roundtable Engagement on Agenda Setting for Strategic Integration of State Commissioners of Information in the Fight Against Corruption, stressed that the Tinubu administration remains committed to allowing anti-graft agencies to operate independently, without political interference.
“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.
“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,” Idris stated.
The minister further emphasized the President’s resolve to eliminate corruption from public institutions, insisting that there will be “no safe haven for corruption in Nigeria.”
FG was “advancing far-reaching judicial reforms aimed at curbing unnecessary delays in corruption trials, ensuring that justice is neither denied nor endlessly deferred.” He said.
Idris also emphasized the theme of the roundtable ‘Partnership for Strengthening Transparency and Accountability at State and Local Government Levels Through Strategic Communications’ — as evidence of the critical role that state information commissioners play in spreading government messaging across all levels of society.
“Transparency and accountability constitute strong pillars of democracy and are, unarguably, at the core of President Tinubu’s grundnorm of administration,” He said.
The minister while commending the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, led by Dr. Musa Aliyu, for adopting an innovative communication strategy that actively involves stakeholders at the state and local levels in disseminating government policies to the grassroots,called on state governments and their officials to rise above partisanship and support the national development agenda.
“I wish to implore you all, Honourable Commissioners, that irrespective of the political party you belong to, it is important you identify with the massive opportunities inherent in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, who is relentless in reshaping our economy to address years of neglect, and its limitations, and in turn achieve inclusion, diversification, growth and steady development,” he stated.
