The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the Federal Government against arresting, inviting or interrogating its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over allegations contained in a petition seeking the reopening of corruption cases against the former Vice President.
Former Kogi West Senator and prominent ADC chieftain, Dino Melaye, said the party would mobilise Nigerians to demonstrate that the people were greater than those in government if Atiku was arrested or invited over what he described as “frivolous petitions.”
Melaye issued the warning in a video posted on his X account, saying the ADC would not remain silent if Atiku was subjected to what it regarded as political persecution.
His comments followed a petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by a former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, seeking the reopening of corruption cases involving Atiku.
The petition alleged that the EFCC investigated Atiku between 2005 and 2006 over alleged money laundering, abuse of office and diversion of about $135 million in resources belonging to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).
The allegations and the investigation had contributed to a political rift between Atiku and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
However, a Lagos State High Court, in a judgment delivered on December 20, 2006, set aside the EFCC’s administrative indictment of Atiku, holding that the process was unconstitutional and flawed.
Melaye’s warning adds a fresh political dimension to the renewed calls for investigation into the allegations, coming as the ADC positions Atiku as its candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The former senator said the party would resist any move it considered an attempt to use law enforcement agencies to intimidate or politically persecute its presidential candidate.
The development is expected to heighten political debate over the balance between the investigation of corruption allegations and the need to prevent law enforcement processes from being used for political purposes.
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