By Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government against inviting, arresting or interrogating African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in connection with a corruption petition currently before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Melaye’s Warning
In a video posted to his X account on Friday, Melaye said the ADC would demonstrate that ordinary Nigerians far outnumber those currently in government, and that authorities should act on what he called a baseless petition against Atiku.
“This is our note of warning: if, due to these 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.
The Petition Behind the Controversy
Melaye’s comments come in response to a petition filed with the EFCC by former House of Representatives member Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, urging the agency to revisit corruption allegations against Atiku tied to his years as Vice President. The petition, submitted on Agbonayinma’s behalf by his lawyer Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN, reportedly points back to an earlier EFCC investigation and report covering the same allegations.
Those allegations trace back to 2005 and 2006, when both the EFCC and an administrative panel examined claims involving abuse of office, money laundering, and the alleged diversion of funds connected to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund. Atiku, who held the vice presidency during that period, rejected the accusations at the time and characterised them as politically driven.
A Lagos State High Court subsequently threw out the EFCC’s administrative indictment against Atiku on December 20, 2006, ruling it unconstitutional and procedurally flawed. No criminal conviction ever emerged from the original allegations.
Political Context
The renewed petition surfaces as Atiku gears up to run for president in 2027 under the ADC banner, part of a broader push by opposition figures to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress. Melaye, a vocal backer of both Atiku and the ADC, signaled that the opposition would push back firmly against any attempt to weaponise the petition against the former Vice President.
As of the time of this report, there was no indication that the EFCC had taken any action to invite or arrest Atiku in connection with the petition.
