APC Chieftain Calls for Immediate, Thorough Investigation of Atiku Abubakar

By Jude Opara

A former National Vice Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ntufam Hillard Eta, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations of graft against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Eta, who is also Chairman of the Board of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), said it would be appropriate for the relevant agencies to investigate the allegations to determine Abubakar’s culpability or otherwise.

He said Nigeria could not build a credible democracy if accountability was applied selectively, adding that public office must never become a shield against scrutiny and that political ambition must not become a reason for institutions to ignore credible allegations.

Eta, however, said he was not calling on Nigerians to convict Abubakar in the court of public opinion or for him to be investigated by authorities outside Nigeria.

“Let me be absolutely clear: I am not asking anybody to convict Atiku Abubakar in the court of public opinion. I am asking that the evidence be subjected to the court of law.”

He noted that a petition was recently submitted to the EFCC seeking the reopening of an alleged financial crime case concerning Atiku, adding that the petition was reportedly received by the anti-graft agency on September 1, 2026.

The APC chieftain said Nigerians deserved to know precisely what had been alleged rather than deal with vague political accusations.

“First, there were allegations concerning the movement of more than US$40 million in suspect funds into the United States between 2000 and 2008 through offshore corporations and accounts associated with Jennifer Douglas, Atiku Abubakar’s wife. The U.S. Senate investigation examined transfers involving entities including LetsGo Ltd., Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd. and Sima Holding Ltd. According to the Senate report, more than half of the funds, approximately US$25 million, were transferred by offshore corporations into U.S. bank accounts opened by Douglas (Homeland Security Committee, 2010).

“Second, the U.S. Senate report examined allegations involving payments connected to Siemens AG. The report stated that Douglas received at least US$1.7 million in alleged bribe payments connected to Siemens, while an SEC civil complaint had alleged US$2.8 million in bribe payments to her from Siemens. These are allegations and findings contained in historical records and must not be presented as a criminal conviction against Atiku (Homeland Security Committee, 2010).

“Third, there were questions concerning approximately US$14 million transferred by offshore corporations to American University in connection with consulting services relating to the establishment of the university in Nigeria. The Senate report examined the source and movement of those funds and the relationship between the offshore entities and the university project founded by Atiku (Homeland Security Committee, 2010).

“Fourth, there were allegations in Nigeria concerning the use of companies and bank accounts as so-called Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to divert or misappropriate public funds during the period Atiku served as Vice President between 1999 and 2007. These allegations became particularly prominent in 2023 following claims attributed to Michael Achimugu, described as a former aide to Atiku. A subsequent petition by Festus Keyamo asked the EFCC, ICPC and CCB to investigate the allegations (TheCable, 2023).

“Fifth, the 2023 petition raised allegations bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation, conspiracy and possible violations of the Code of Conduct applicable to public officers. These were allegations presented to law enforcement authorities, not findings of guilt by a court (Punch, 2023).”

Eta also stated that questions had been raised concerning Atiku’s alleged knowledge of certain accounts said to have been used as vehicles for the movement or diversion of public funds.

“The allegations formed part of the case brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja in 2023.

“These are not allegations that I am presenting as proven facts. They are matters that have appeared in official investigations, petitions, court filings and public records and which, in my view, deserve to be subjected to the full machinery of the law.”

According to him, nobody should be seen as being above the law, irrespective of their status in society.

“No politician should be above the law. This principle cannot apply only to people we disagree with. It must apply to everybody — those in government, those in opposition, former presidents, former vice presidents, ministers, governors and every Nigerian who occupies or has occupied public office.

“What concerns me particularly is the danger of allowing allegations of this magnitude to become merely political ammunition during an election season.

“We cannot have one standard when an allegation is made against a member of the governing party and another standard when the allegation concerns an opposition politician seeking the presidency.

“If Atiku Abubakar believes, as he has publicly stated, that anyone with evidence should bring it forward, then let the evidence be brought forward and independently examined.

“I therefore call upon the EFCC and other competent authorities to examine every credible petition, obtain the relevant records, invite the appropriate persons, follow the money where necessary and establish the facts without fear or favour.”

Eta said Nigerians who believed in equal justice, institutional accountability and the rule of law should lend their voices to the demand for a transparent investigation.

“Nigeria has suffered for too long from a culture in which allegations are either buried because the accused is politically powerful or weaponised because the accused is politically inconvenient,” he concluded.