Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has warned the Federal Government against inviting, arresting or interrogating African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over a corruption petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Melaye said the ADC would demonstrate the strength of Nigerians if Atiku was invited or arrested over what he described as a frivolous petition.
The former senator made the statement in a video shared on his X account on Friday, where he warned the government against using the petition to target the former Vice-President.
“This is our note of warning, if due to this frivolous petitions you invite, arrest, or interview Atiku Abubakar, and we are not saying it with fear or favour, we will prove to you that those in government are less than one percent of the population of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We will prove to you that the people own government,” Melaye said.
His comments came after a former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, submitted a petition to the EFCC requesting that corruption allegations against Atiku from his time as Vice-President be reopened.
The petition, filed on Agbonayinma’s behalf by his lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN, reportedly referred to an earlier EFCC investigation and report concerning allegations against Atiku.
The allegations originated from 2005 and 2006, when the EFCC and an administrative panel investigated claims involving abuse of office, money laundering and alleged diversion of funds connected to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.
Atiku, who served as Vice-President during the period in question, denied the allegations and described them as politically motivated.
On December 20, 2006, the Lagos State High Court set aside the EFCC’s administrative indictment against Atiku, ruling that it was unconstitutional and flawed.
The allegations did not result in a criminal conviction.
The latest petition comes as Atiku prepares to contest the 2027 presidential election on the ADC platform, with opposition politicians seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Melaye, who is a prominent supporter of Atiku and the ADC, said the opposition would resist any attempt to use the petition as a basis for targeting the former Vice-President.
As of the time of filing the report, there was no confirmed indication that the EFCC had invited or arrested Atiku in connection with the petition.
Source: X
