The 2027 African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed calls for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate him over alleged corruption as a political witch hunt.
Atiku, in a statement issued by his media aide, Paul Ibe, accused the government of using state institutions against political opponents whenever it feels threatened.
His reaction followed a call by former National Vice Chairman, South South, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, urging the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the former Vice President over alleged corruption.
Responding to the call, Atiku said the renewed interest in investigating him was politically motivated.
“When an incumbent government begins to feel politically threatened, the institutions of state suddenly become intensely interested in its opponents.
“The latest episode is the move to bring former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, under the scrutiny of the EFCC,” he said.
The former Vice President also recalled that the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo investigated him but, according to him, found no evidence to support a prosecution.
Atiku argued that successive administrations had controlled the machinery of government for almost two decades but none had found sufficient grounds to prosecute him for corruption.
He maintained that the latest calls for an EFCC probe were part of efforts to politically undermine his candidacy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
