The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has declined a request by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to issue a wanted alert against Lagos businessman, Bashir Haske, who is also the son-in-law of opposition leader Atiku Abubakar.
According to People’s Gazette the France-based agency in a statement on Friday, said its constitution prohibits involvement in cases driven by political motives.
“Interpol has no plans to help member countries advance politically motivated cases,” the organisation stated in an email to Peoples Gazette. It added that Red Notices are only issued when they meet its rules and constitution, which forbid actions based on “political, religious, racial or military grounds.”
Interpol noted that while member countries control criminal investigations, its headquarters in Lyon would only endorse requests that align with its regulations designed to safeguard fundamental rights.
Atiku, a former vice president and the main opposition candidate in the 2023 presidential election, recently spearheaded a new coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 polls.