ABUJA: Former Kogi West senator and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Dino Melaye has warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against inviting former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for questioning over fresh allegations of financial crimes.
Melaye issued the warning during the ADC All Support Groups town hall meeting in Abuja, where he criticised renewed calls for the anti-graft agency to reopen investigations into allegations involving Atiku.
The meeting, themed Together We Can Build the Nigeria We Desire, focused on grassroots mobilisation, polling-unit structures, vote protection and greater participation of youths, women and support groups ahead of the 2027 elections.
Melaye argued that Atiku had already been subjected to several investigations by government institutions over the years without being convicted.
According to him, it would be inappropriate to use the EFCC to politically harass the former vice-president, whom he described as one of the figures associated with the establishment of the commission.
Atiku was part of the government that created the EFCC. You cannot use the EFCC to torment the creator of the EFCC, Melaye said.
The ADC chieftain was reacting to a recent petition by former House of Representatives member Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, who called on the EFCC to reopen investigations into alleged financial crimes involving Atiku.
Agbonayinma, through his lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo of Sagitarian Law Firm, reportedly gave the commission 14 days to act on the petition.
The request was linked to an EFCC investigation and report concerning Atiku during his tenure as vice-president between 2005 and 2006.
The petition also cited a 2010 report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which allegedly raised concerns relating to money laundering and other financial activities involving the former vice-president.
Melaye, however, maintained that the allegations had been investigated extensively by successive authorities.
I, as Dino Melaye, I am aware that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have been investigated by Olusegun Obasanjo and the federal government time and time and time and time again,” he said.
He further claimed that Atiku had prevailed in 13 cases involving the federal government.
In fact, federal government versus Atiku Abubakar, 13 cases. And Atiku Abubakar won all the 13 cases, Melaye said.
Melaye’s strongest warning was directed at the EFCC and President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He cautioned that inviting or arresting Atiku ahead of the 2027 election could trigger a major political confrontation, particularly if the move was perceived as politically motivated.
My note of warning is this. And this note of warning is straight to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Melaye said.
That the day EFCC invites Atiku Abubakar before election, then Tinubu will know that government is not owned by those in government.”
He added: “Government is owned by the people. Any day, due to these frivolous petitions, you invite, arrest or interview Atiku Abubakar, and we are not saying it with fear or favour; we mean it. Invite Atiku and see trouble.”
Melaye also invoked the 2011 Tunisian revolution while warning that Nigerians could challenge the government if they believed state institutions were being used to target opposition politicians.
We will tell you that what happened in Tunisia can happen in Nigeria. We will prove to you that those in government are less than one percent of the population of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he said.
The former senator further dismissed the renewed calls for an investigation, arguing that Atiku had already faced extensive scrutiny from government agencies and other institutions.
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,” Melaye said.
His comments came shortly after Atiku rejected calls for the EFCC to reopen the allegations against him.
The former vice-president maintained that the matters had previously been examined by the EFCC, an administrative panel, the National Assembly and the courts.
Atiku also said that no court had convicted him over the allegations and challenged anyone with credible evidence against him to present it through the appropriate legal channels.
He accused supporters of the Tinubu administration of reviving old allegations in an attempt to divert public attention from Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.
As of Friday, the EFCC had not publicly announced whether it would act on the petition requesting a fresh investigation into the allegations against Atiku.
