“Invite Atiku and see trouble.”
That was the blunt warning from former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye as he cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against questioning former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over longstanding allegations of financial misconduct.
Melaye spoke in Abuja at an African Democratic Congress (ADC) town hall meeting involving the party’s support groups. His comments came after renewed calls for the EFCC to revisit allegations involving Atiku.
Melaye: Atiku Has Been Investigated Repeatedly
Melaye argued that the allegations were not new and claimed Atiku had already faced scrutiny from several government institutions over the years without being convicted.
He pointed to Atiku’s role in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and argued against what he described as the use of the EFCC to target the former vice-president.
“You cannot use the EFCC to torment the creator of the EFCC,” Melaye said.
His remarks followed a petition submitted to the EFCC by former House of Representatives member Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, who called for renewed investigation and possible prosecution of Atiku.
Through his lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo of Sagitarian Law Firm, Agbonayinma reportedly gave the commission 14 days to respond to the demand.
Why Atiku Is Back in the Spotlight
The petition reportedly relies partly on an EFCC investigation and report concerning Atiku during his tenure as vice-president between 2005 and 2006.
It also cites a 2010 report from the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which contained allegations relating to money laundering and other financial offences.
Importantly, the allegations referenced in the petition have not resulted in a criminal conviction against Atiku.
Atiku has previously rejected calls for the allegations to be reopened. He has maintained that the matters were examined by the EFCC, an administrative panel, the National Assembly and the courts.
He has also challenged anyone with credible evidence against him to present it through the appropriate legal channels.
‘Invite Atiku and See Trouble’
Melaye’s strongest comments were directed at the possibility of the EFCC inviting Atiku shortly before the 2027 elections.
He warned President Bola Tinubu’s administration that the ADC would resist what he characterized as a politically driven attempt to deploy state institutions against an opposition figure.
Melaye said any arrest, invitation or interrogation of Atiku based on what he considers frivolous petitions would trigger a strong political response.
He invoked the 2011 Tunisian revolution, arguing that Nigerians could push back if they concluded that government agencies were being used against political opponents.
Atiku Accuses Tinubu Supporters of Political Distraction
Atiku has also accused supporters of the Tinubu administration of resurrecting old allegations to divert public attention from Nigeria’s economic and security difficulties.
Melaye, meanwhile, questioned the rationale for reopening matters that he said had already been investigated repeatedly.
He claimed that authorities had scrutinised virtually every aspect of Atiku’s affairs, arguing that there was little justification for another round of investigations.
What Happens Next?
For now, the EFCC has not publicly confirmed whether it will act on Agbonayinma’s petition.
That leaves the controversy at a politically sensitive crossroads: a renewed push to investigate a major opposition figure, a warning from his political allies, and allegations that remain contested and have not produced a criminal conviction against Atiku.
With the 2027 elections approaching, any decision by the EFCC could carry consequences far beyond the legal question itself.
