Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has warned the Federal Government against inviting, arresting or interrogating African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar over a corruption petition before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Melaye issued the warning in a video shared on his X account on Friday, saying the ADC would mobilise Nigerians if Atiku was targeted over what he described as a frivolous petition.
“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 per cent 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 tenure as Vice-President.
The petition, signed by Agbonayinma’s lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN, reportedly referenced an earlier EFCC investigation and report concerning allegations against Atiku.
The allegations date back to 2005 and 2006, when the EFCC and an administrative panel investigated claims of 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 any wrongdoing and described the allegations as politically motivated.
On December 20, 2006, a Lagos State High Court set aside the EFCC’s administrative indictment against Atiku, describing the process as unconstitutional and flawed. No criminal conviction resulted from the allegations.
The renewed petition comes as Atiku prepares to contest the 2027 presidential election under the ADC, amid opposition efforts to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress.
Melaye, a prominent supporter of Atiku and the ADC, said the opposition would resist any attempt to use the petition to target the former Vice-President.
There was no confirmed indication as of the time of filing the report that the EFCC had invited or arrested Atiku over the petition.
