Why I Asked EFCC to Probe Atiku – Ex-Lawmaker Reveals

Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, has explained why he petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Agbonayinma said the petition was filed in his capacity as a concerned Nigerian who believes that allegations of corruption should be subjected to proper investigation by the relevant authorities.

The former lawmaker spoke while responding to criticism from former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye over the petition against Atiku, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The disagreement between the two former lawmakers followed a recent petition asking the EFCC to revisit allegations linked to Atiku’s time as vice president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Agbonayinma, through his lawyer, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN, of Sagitarian Law Firm, had reportedly given the EFCC 14 days to act on the petition.

The request referenced an earlier EFCC investigation and report concerning allegations against Atiku between 2005 and 2006.

The petition also referred to a 2010 report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

At the centre of the latest controversy is whether the allegations raised in the petition were conclusively dealt with by the relevant authorities in the past, as claimed by Melaye.

Melaye had criticised the move to reopen the matter and questioned the basis for bringing back allegations that he said had already been investigated.

He also questioned Agbonayinma’s political activities and attacked the former lawmaker personally while defending Atiku.

But Agbonayinma has now asked Melaye to concentrate on the substance of the petition rather than his personality or political record.

In a statement made available to journalists in Benin City, the former lawmaker challenged Melaye to produce an official EFCC decision or court record showing that the allegations were conclusively dismissed.

“Rather than attacking my person, character and integrity, why not address the substance of the petition?” he asked, challenging Melaye to allow the EFCC to perform its statutory responsibilities.

“You cannot defend Atiku Abubakar from an EFCC petition by attacking me,” he said.

Agbonayinma maintained that his decision to approach the EFCC was not based on personal disagreement with Atiku.

He said the anti-graft agency has the responsibility to examine allegations of financial crimes and determine whether there is a basis for further action.

According to him, the appropriate response to a petition of such nature should be evidence and official records rather than political arguments.

The former lawmaker further said Atiku should be allowed to respond to any questions that may arise if the EFCC decides that an investigation is necessary.

He argued that the submission of a petition does not amount to a declaration of guilt against the person named in it.

Rather, he said, it gives the relevant agency an opportunity to examine the allegations and determine whether there is a case to answer.

Agbonayinma also rejected Melaye’s suggestion that he should be the subject of the controversy because of his political affiliation.

He challenged the former senator to provide evidence if he had any against him.

“If you have evidence against me, bring it forward. If you have facts concerning the petition, present them,” he stated.

“Defend the facts, not personalities,” he said, reiterating that nobody should use political friendship or loyalty as a shield against lawful investigation.

Atiku has previously denied wrongdoing in relation to the allegations.

He has also maintained that issues surrounding his past dealings have been examined by various government institutions and through legal processes.

Melaye, meanwhile, has argued that Atiku has already been subjected to several investigations.

At an African Democratic Congress support groups meeting in Abuja last week, Melaye warned against inviting or arresting Atiku over what he described as a frivolous petition.

“Atiku was part of the government that created the EFCC. You cannot use the EFCC to torment the creator of the EFCC,” he said.

Melaye also claimed that Atiku had been investigated repeatedly by the government during and after the Obasanjo administration.

“They have investigated Atiku everywhere. The only thing they are yet to find out about Atiku is where his placenta was buried. They have done everything,” he said.

Howeve, the EFCC has not publicly announced any decision on whether it will reopen the allegations raised in Agbonayinma’s petition.