Victor EzejaFormer Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has refuted allegations that he received some funds from Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his campaign during the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku said the allegation “is a blatant lie from the pit of hell”, adding that it is a campaign of calumny targeted at him with the aim of advancing the political interests of President Bola Tinubu.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAtiku stated this while reacting to some news reports claiming that Sanwo-Olu contributed to his campaign funds in the last presidential election.
A news report earlier stated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is investigating one Ms Aisha Achimugu over alleged money laundering and investment scam.
In a post on its X handle on Friday, EFCC declared Ms Achimugu wanted in an alleged case of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. The anti-graft agency said Achimugu, who is 51 years old, hails from Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi and urged any member of the public with useful information about her whereabout should come forward.
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In a statement signed by his spokesman, Paul Ibe, and titled “Halt This Tinubu’s Voyage of Misadventure and Campaign of Calumny Against Atiku Abubakar,” the Atiku Media Office said it has taken note of reports in a section of the media that the Governor Sanwo-Olu through Ms Aisha Achimugu made available to Atiku Abubakar, money purportedly belonging to Lagos State.
The Atiku Media Office said: “Let it be known, that this is a blatant lie from the pit of hell; a contrived political hogwash, and a futile campaign of calumny aimed at advancing the political interests of President Bola A. Tinubu.
“It may interest Nigerians to note that the Waziri of Adamawa does not know Gov. Sanwo-Olu and indeed has never met him before.”
Atiku’s group described the allegation as a “kindergarten propaganda” from the camp of Tinubu and questioned the possibility of Atiku, who doesn’t know and has no connection with Sanwo-Olu, having a financial transaction with him, especially during the Presidential election of 2023 in which his boss (Tinubu) was a contestant.
The group described the allegation as a “political hatchet job aimed at providing a much-needed justification to jettison Governor Sanwo-Olu, who appears to have fallen out of favour with the ‘Bourdillon Cult.”
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The Atiku Media Office further stated that the strategy is two-fold, with one being to get rid of Sanwo-Olu and the other to discredit the coalition being put together by the opposition political leaders, of which Atiku Abubakar is a key stakeholder.
Atiku had last week, during a press conference in Abuja, announced the formation of a coalition aimed at unseating Tinubu in 2027.
The Atiku group said since EFFC is investigating the matter, the anti-corruption agency should make public the outcome of its alleged investigation.
“It is not just the President that is entitled to that information but the generality of the Nigerian public, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.
“This voyage of misadventure and campaign of calumny against the person and reputation of Atiku Abubakar must be halted immediately and with alacrity, too,” the statement added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
