Prosecute Atiku now, Keyamo writes Efcc, others

Lawyer and Director of Public Affairs of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo (SAN), is seeking the prosecution of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by Nigeria’s anti corruption agencies.

Keyamo in a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Code of Conduct Bureau gave the agencies 72 hours to interrogate and prosecute the former Vice president for offences bordering on money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation, conspiracy and breach of code of conduct for public officials.

According to the lawyer, the petition is based on revelations by a whistle-blower, Michael Achimugu “who has provided the nation with evidence of letters of appointment by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, emails, documents, audio clips, sworn affidavit and his direct oral evidence as to how Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who happens to be the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during his tenure as Vice-President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, colluded with his then boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, to fleece the country and steal public funds using what he termed as “Special Purpose Vehicles” (SPVs).”

“Those SPVs were companies Atiku admittedly registered upon assumption of office as Vice-President (with the approval of President Olusegun Obasanjo) using “trusted allies” as shareholders and Directors. The purpose was to divert government contracts to these companies as “consultants” and then pay monies into these companies and use those monies to fund the PDP and their private businesses and family activities”, Keyamo said.

He added that the conduct of the PDP candidate as revealed by the whistle-blower is in breach of Sections 5, 10, 13 & 17 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Section 18(2) of The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, Srction 311 of the Penal Code Law and Section 96(1) of The Penal Code Act in Nigeria.

Keyamo urged the three agencies to act immediately on the petition owing to its national importance despite the approaching elections where Atiku is a frontline runner.

“TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that if you fail, refuse and/or neglect to act, I shall be proceeding to court to compel you to act”, Keyamo said in the petition.