Precious Nwonu, Enugu
Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has warned the Federal Government against arresting, inviting or interrogating African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar over a corruption petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Melaye said the ADC and its supporters would resist any attempt to use the petition to target Atiku, insisting that the opposition would demonstrate the strength of public support if the former Vice-President was invited or arrested.
He made the remarks in a video posted on his X account on Friday.
“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 followed a petition submitted to the EFCC by a former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, seeking the reopening of corruption allegations against Atiku dating back to his time as Vice-President.
The petition, signed by Agbonayinma’s lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN, reportedly referred to an earlier EFCC investigation and report concerning allegations involving Atiku.
The allegations date back to 2005 and 2006, when the EFCC and an administrative panel investigated claims including abuse of office, money laundering and alleged diversion of funds linked to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.
Atiku, who was Vice-President at the time, denied wrongdoing and described the allegations as politically motivated.
On December 20, 2006, a Lagos State High Court reportedly set aside the EFCC’s administrative indictment against Atiku, holding that the process was unconstitutional and flawed.
The allegations did not result in a criminal conviction against the former Vice-President.
The renewed petition comes as Atiku prepares to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the ADC, amid efforts by opposition politicians to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Melaye, a prominent supporter of Atiku and the ADC, warned that the opposition would not remain silent if the petition was used as a basis for targeting the former Vice-President.
However, there was no confirmed indication as of the time of filing the report that the EFCC had invited or arrested Atiku in connection with the latest petition.