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 petition asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to revisit corruption allegations dating back to his tenure as Vice-President.
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Melaye, in a video posted on his X account on Friday, said the ADC and its supporters would resist what he described as any attempt to use the petition to target Atiku.
“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 remarks followed a petition reportedly submitted to the EFCC by former House of Representatives member Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, asking the anti-graft agency to reopen allegations involving Atiku.
The petition, said to have been signed by Agbonayinma’s lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN, reportedly referred to an earlier EFCC investigation and report concerning allegations against the former Vice-President.
The allegations date back to 2005 and 2006, when the EFCC and an administrative panel examined claims bordering on abuse of office, money laundering and alleged diversion of funds linked to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.
Atiku consistently denied wrongdoing and maintained that the allegations were politically motivated.
According to the report, a Lagos State High Court on December 20, 2006, set aside the EFCC’s administrative indictment against Atiku, describing the process as unconstitutional and flawed.
The allegations did not result in a criminal conviction against the former Vice-President.
Melaye’s intervention has now added a political dimension to the renewed petition, with the former senator warning that any move against Atiku would attract a strong response from his supporters.
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