Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, a former member of the House of Representatives and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has requested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reopen and prosecute a financial crimes case that he claimed involved Atiku Abubakar, a former vise president and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Agbonayinma gave the anti-graft agency 14 days to act on his request, warning that he would take legal action if the EFCC failed to respond within the period.The petition was submitted on his behalf by his lawyer, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN, of Sagitarian Law Firm.
Agbonayinma claimed in the lawsuit that during Atiku’s tenure as vise president in 2005 and 2006, the EFCC looked into claims of corruption.
He cited “The EFCC Report on Vice-President Abubakar Atiku (Full Report),” a report purportedly created by the commission in September 2006. He said that accusations of corruption, money laundering, and other financial offenses were included in the report.
The former congressman asserted that despite the EFCC’s declaration that Atiku would face charges after leaving office, no such prosecution had actually occurred. accused the commission of failing to follow through on the matter and argued that the alleged inaction amounted to a failure to carry out its anti-corruption responsibilities.
Agbonayinma also referenced a February 2010 report from the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs of the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which he claimed included accusations of financial crimes and money laundering involving Atiku.
He requested that the US Senate report and the commission’s 2006 report be reactivated and used as a foundation for the investigation and prosecution of the former vise president by the EFCC.
The APC leader contended that investigating the case would show the EFCC’s dedication to combating corruption, especially claims involving powerful political figures.
He also expressed confidence in the ability of the present EFCC leadership to pursue the case and use it as an illustration of the commission’s efforts to combat corruption.
Agbonayinma’s petition gave the EFCC 14 days from the date of the letter to respond to his demand. He warned that failure by the commission to act within the stated period would lead him to seek legal remedies against the agency.
