The Presidency has strongly refuted claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that he is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged financial transaction involving Lagos State.
In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency described Atiku’s allegations as “unfounded” and a desperate attempt to remain politically relevant.
The statement dismissed the claims as a continuation of Atiku’s pattern of relying on social media speculation rather than credible information.
“It is disheartening that a politician of Atiku’s stature would lend credibility to baseless social media speculation to remain politically relevant,” the statement read.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on addressing critical national challenges and has neither the time nor the inclination to engage in petty political distractions.”
The controversy began when the Atiku Media Office responded to media reports suggesting that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had, through a third party, transferred state funds to Atiku.
The media office, in a statement signed by Paul Ibe, dismissed the allegations as “a blatant lie from the pit of hell” and a politically motivated scheme aimed at discrediting both Atiku and Governor Sanwo-Olu.
“It may interest Nigerians to note that the Waziri of Adamawa does not know Governor Sanwo-Olu and has never met him before,” the statement read. “How is it possible for Atiku, who has no connection with Sanwo-Olu, to engage in a financial transaction with him – especially during the 2023 presidential election in which Tinubu was a contestant?”
The Atiku camp further claimed that the allegations were part of a broader political strategy to achieve two main objectives: first, to remove Sanwo-Olu from office due to alleged political rifts within the ruling party, and second, to undermine the opposition coalition that Atiku has been working to build.
The Presidency, however, dismissed Atiku’s claims as a calculated move to deflect attention from his political struggles.
“Atiku’s allegations are infantile and a transparent ploy to deflect from his political setbacks,” the statement read, adding that Atiku has failed to take on the dignified role of an elder statesman since his defeat in the 2023 presidential election.
The statement also reaffirmed the EFCC’s independence, stating that the anti-graft agency operates within its statutory mandate without external influence.
“Any insinuation otherwise is a disservice to the agency’s professionalism and the rule of law,” the Presidency said.
While Atiku’s media office challenged the EFCC to publicly release the findings of its alleged investigation, the Presidency maintained that such demands were unnecessary, as the agency acts autonomously.
The clash between Atiku and the Presidency comes amid heightened political maneuvering, with Atiku reportedly working to strengthen an opposition coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His recent comments have further deepened tensions, drawing sharp responses from the government.
The Presidency, in its statement, urged Atiku to redirect his focus toward initiatives that foster unity, economic progress, and democratic stability rather than engaging in what it described as “divisive rhetoric and unfounded accusations.”
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