Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has cautioned the Federal Government against inviting, arresting or interrogating African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over a corruption petition before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Melaye warned that the ADC would demonstrate the strength of Nigerians if Atiku is invited or arrested over what he described as a frivolous petition.
The former senator made the remarks in a video shared 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 former House of Representatives member, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, urging the anti-graft agency to reopen corruption allegations against Atiku dating back to his time as Vice-President.
The petition, reportedly signed on Agbonayinma’s behalf by his lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN, referenced an earlier EFCC investigation and report concerning allegations against the former Vice-President.
The allegations originated from investigations conducted in 2005 and 2006 by the EFCC and an administrative panel over claims bordering on abuse of office, money laundering and alleged diversion of funds linked to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).
Atiku, who was Vice-President at the time, denied the allegations and described them as politically motivated.
On December 20, 2006, a Lagos State High Court reportedly set aside the EFCC’s administrative indictment against Atiku, holding that it 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 figures to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Melaye, a prominent supporter of Atiku and the ADC, maintained that the opposition would resist any attempt to use the petition as a means of targeting the former Vice-President.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no confirmed indication that the EFCC had invited or arrested Atiku in connection with the renewed petition.
