Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has warned the Federal Government against inviting, arresting or interrogating the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, over a corruption petition before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Melaye, a prominent supporter of Atiku and the ADC, said the opposition party would mobilise Nigerians against any attempt to use what he described as a “frivolous petition” to target the former Vice-President.
He issued the warning in a video posted on his X account yesterday.
According to Melaye, the ADC would demonstrate that the Nigerian people were greater than those occupying government positions if Atiku was invited or arrested over the petition.
“This is our note of warning, if due to this frivolous petition 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 per cent of the population of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We will prove to you that the people own government,” he said.
The warning followed a fresh petition submitted to the EFCC by former House of Representatives member, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, asking the anti-graft agency to reopen corruption allegations involving Atiku dating back to his tenure as Vice-President.
The petition, reportedly signed on Agbonayinma’s behalf by his lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN, referenced 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 investigated claims bordering on abuse of office, money laundering and alleged diversion of funds linked to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.
Atiku, who was Vice-President at the time, denied wrongdoing and described the allegations as politically motivated.
The matter later went before the Lagos State High Court, which, on December 20, 2006, set aside the EFCC’s administrative indictment against Atiku, describing it as unconstitutional and flawed.
The allegations did not result in a criminal conviction against the former Vice-President.
The renewed petition comes as Atiku prepares for the 2027 presidential election under the ADC, with opposition parties and political figures intensifying efforts to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Melaye said the ADC would not remain silent if the petition was used as a basis to intimidate or harass Atiku.
He maintained that the opposition would defend its presidential candidate and resist what it considers politically motivated actions against him.
However, there was no confirmed indication as of the time of filing the report that the EFCC had invited or arrested Atiku over the renewed petition.
