Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, has defended his petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, challenging critics to address the substance of the allegations rather than resorting to personal attacks, in a sharp escalation of the political confrontation that has consumed Nigeria's pre-election season.
Agbonayinma, an APC chieftain, filed the petition through his lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN, of Sagitarian Law Firm, giving the EFCC a 14-day ultimatum to reopen and prosecute a financial crimes case allegedly involving Atiku between 2005 and 2006, when he served as Vice President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The petition referenced the EFCC's 2006 report on Atiku and a 2010 United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations report that allegedly contained accusations of money laundering and other financial crimes. Agbonayinma warned that if the EFCC failed to act within the 14-day period, he would take legal action against the commission.
The petition drew a swift and furious response from Senator Dino Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, who described the move as "shameful" and alleged that the matter raised against Atiku had been previously investigated and dismissed more than ten years ago. Melaye also questioned Agbonayinma's political consistency, alleging that he had approached him personally and pleaded to become a member of the ADC. In a viral video, Melaye warned the EFCC against inviting Atiku for questioning, saying the ADC and its supporters would resist any attempt to use the anti-graft agency to intimidate or harass the former vice president ahead of the 2027 presidential election. "The day EFCC invites Atiku Abubakar before election, then Tinubu will know that government is not owned by those in government," Melaye said. "Invite Atiku and see trouble".
Agbonayinma fired back on Friday in a strongly worded statement made available to newsmen in Benin City, dismissing Melaye's claim that he was seeking to join the ADC as false. He insisted that he is a member of the National Democratic Congress, describing Melaye's claim as "either a deliberate falsehood or simply a reflection of how poorly informed" the senator was about his current political affiliation. "Rather than attacking my person, character and integrity, why not address the substance of the petition?" Agbonayinma asked. "You cannot defend Atiku Abubakar from an EFCC petition by attacking me". He added that if the former Vice President had nothing to fear, he should be allowed to respond to any questions the commission considered necessary.
The former lawmaker, who represented Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency of Edo State, also challenged Melaye to produce the official EFCC decision or court record supporting his claim that the matter had been "thrown out over ten years ago." He dismissed Melaye's description of him as "unstable" as a childish insult, saying his record in public service speaks for itself. "If you have evidence against me, bring it forward. If you have facts concerning the petition, present them," Agbonayinma said. "Defend the facts, not personalities". He reiterated that nobody should use political friendship or loyalty as a shield against lawful investigation.
Agbonayinma has also explained his decision to give the EFCC the ultimatum, saying Atiku could not be prosecuted while serving as Vice President because of the constitutional immunity he enjoyed at the time. Speaking on Arise Television, he said the investigation was not initiated by him, recalling that former President Obasanjo had previously called for an investigation into Atiku, and that funds allegedly moved out of Nigeria through various companies linked to the former vice president and passed through different international banks. "He was a Vice President, so because of the immunity he enjoyed at the time, they could not prosecute him or take the matter to court. All they could do was investigate the subject matter," Agbonayinma said. He stressed that Atiku remained innocent until proven guilty, noting that he was not the person who initiated the original investigation.
The petition has also drawn support from within the ruling party. Osita Okechukwu, a foundation member of the APC, said Atiku had forgotten an age-old lesson that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. He argued that the petition had revived a two-decades-old frozen case that, regardless of its outcome, has placed Atiku, the EFCC and Nigeria on the front burner. "Crime is not statute-barred," Okechukwu said, noting that "he who comes to equity must come with clean hands".
The dispute is unfolding against the backdrop of the 2027 presidential election, less than four months away. Atiku is seeking the presidency on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, while President Bola Tinubu is seeking a second term. The petition has become the latest front in a bitter political contest that has already seen the Presidency accuse Atiku of corruption over the Mambilla contract and Atiku's camp accuse the APC of fabricating a verdict the arbitration tribunal never delivered. For Agbonayinma, the petition is a matter of public accountability. For Melaye and Atiku's supporters, it is a politically motivated attempt to use the EFCC to derail a presidential campaign. As the EFCC considers its next move, the coming weeks will determine whether the petition proceeds or joins the long list of high-profile corruption cases that have stalled in Nigeria's anti-graft system. What is certain is that the battle over Atiku's record will remain at the centre of the 2027 campaign, and the EFCC's decision will be watched by all sides.
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