Presidency Accuses Atiku of Undermining Nigeria's Sovereignty

On Thursday, the Nigerian Presidency responded to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's lobbying efforts in the United States against President Bola Tinubu, specifically regarding a 1993 civil forfeiture case. The statement, signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, condemned Atiku's actions as undermining Nigeria's sovereignty, asserting that the case had been resolved over 30 years ago without any criminal conviction against Tinubu.

The Presidency characterized Atiku's lobbying as an inappropriate attempt to involve foreign powers in Nigeria's domestic politics. It emphasized that the matter was settled by the electoral mandates given to Tinubu in February 2023 and affirmed by the Supreme Court.

Additionally, the statement referenced Atiku's alleged legal issues in the US, including involvement in the William Jefferson bribery scandal and a 2010 Senate investigation into his financial dealings. The Presidency criticized Atiku's past privatization efforts, labeling them as a "privatisation heist" that resulted in job losses and unpaid salaries.