Probe, Prosecute Atiku For Corruption Allegations Now, Ex-APC Vice Chairman Tells EFCC, Others 

A former National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ntufam Hilliard Eta, has called on law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies to fully investigate the allegations and petitions concerning former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and where the evidence establishes criminal offences, prosecute him in accordance with Nigerian law.

Eta who said this at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, said he is not asking anybody to convict Atiku the presidential candidate of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) in the court of public opinion but demanding that the evidence be subjected to the court of law.

He stated that a recent petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called for the reopening of financial-crime allegations concerning Atiku dating back to investigations conducted around 2005-2006 which was

reportedly received by the anti-graft agency on September 1, 2026.

“There have also been renewed discussions around a 2010 United States Senate report concerning suspicious financial transactions associated with individuals connected to Atiku. But we must be intellectually honest; that report is not a criminal conviction, and it did not itself result in criminal charges against him.

“However, the allegations contained in these records and subsequent petitions are sufficiently serious to warrant proper examination by the competent Nigerian authorities.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians deserve to know precisely what has been alleged rather than dealing with vague political accusations,” Eta said.

According to the APC chieftain, 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.

He also said: “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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“Questions were raised concerning Atiku’s alleged knowledge of certain accounts, including an account associated with Marine Float and accounts belonging to other companies, which were alleged to have been used as vehicles for the movement or diversion of public funds.

“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 law.

“That is precisely why I am calling for due process rather than political speculation.

If there is no case, let the appropriate institution say so after examining the evidence.

If there is insufficient evidence, let Nigerians be told but if credible evidence establishes that offences were committed, then the law must take its course.”

Eta argued that no politician should be above the law and the principle 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.

The former APC National Vice Chairman expressed concern over the danger of allowing allegations of such 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.

That is not persecution. That is accountability.

“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.

“I equally call on the Nigerian public to resist the temptation to turn this matter into another political shouting match.

We should not prosecute a man because we dislike his politics, Neither should we refuse to prosecute a man because we support his politics.

“I am therefore calling on Nigerians who believe in equal justice, institutional accountability and the rule of law to lend their voices to this demand for a transparent investigation,”he added.