Get Guardian on GoogleA chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akinjide Kazeem Akinola, has dismissed reports linking Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who represents Zamfara West Senatorial District, to a recent gold seizure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing the allegations as false and malicious.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Akinola condemned what he characterised as an attempt to tarnish the reputation of the former Zamfara State governor, insisting that there was no basis for associating Yari with the incident.
According to him, Senator Yari’s public record and longstanding relationship with the people of Zamfara State contradict the narrative being circulated by what he described as detractors seeking to undermine his image.
“If you go to the streets of Zamfara, every single person you meet will tell you about Senator Yari’s goodwill and his various initiatives to improve the lives of people in the state, both within and outside public office,” Akinola said.
“This malicious attempt to link him to an alleged gold seizure is designed to harm his growing national profile as a well-loved individual who has committed his life to public service and a dependable ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The APC chieftain noted that the EFCC had publicly identified individuals allegedly connected to the case and argued that Senator Yari was not among those named by the anti-graft agency.
“He was not even under consideration in the matter. This tells you everything you need to know,” he stated.
Akinola further alleged that the claims formed part of a broader campaign aimed at discrediting the former governor.
“This is part of ongoing efforts by malicious actors to weaponise falsehood and misinformation to smear Senator Yari’s integrity,” he said. “But like all past attempts, the malicious actors will fail.”
The EFCC has not publicly linked Senator Yari to the alleged gold seizure, and no charges have been announced against him in connection with the matter.
Yari, who served two terms as governor of Zamfara State between 2007 and 2019 before his election to the Senate, remains a prominent figure within the APC and national political landscape.
