By Chesa Chesa
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairman of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ntufam Hilliard Eta, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant law-enforcement agencies to fully investigate allegations of financial crimes involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Eta made the call on Tuesday at a press conference at the APC national headquarters in Abuja, where he stressed that political considerations should not override the principle of accountability in a democracy.
He said allegations against Atiku should neither be treated as established facts nor dismissed on political grounds, insisting that they should be subjected to due process and judicial scrutiny.
“I am not asking anybody to convict Atiku Abubakar in the court of public opinion. I am asking that the evidence be subjected to the court of law,” said Eta, a former Acting National Chairman of APC.
According to him, a recent petition submitted to the EFCC sought the reopening of financial-crime allegations concerning Atiku dating back to investigations conducted around 2005 and 2006. He said the petition was reportedly received by the commission on September 1, 2026.
Eta also cited renewed discussions surrounding a 2010 United States Senate report on suspicious financial transactions involving individuals connected to the former Vice-President.
He, however, cautioned that the report should not be interpreted as a criminal conviction against Atiku, noting that it did not itself result in criminal charges against him.
The APC chieftain said the allegations nevertheless remained serious enough to warrant examination by competent Nigerian authorities.
He listed several allegations contained in historical investigations, petitions and court records, including claims concerning the movement of more than $40 million into the United States between 2000 and 2008 through offshore corporations and accounts associated with Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s wife.
He said the U.S. Senate investigation examined transfers involving entities including LetsGo Ltd., Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd. and Sima Holding Ltd., adding that the report stated that approximately $25 million was transferred by offshore corporations into U.S. bank accounts opened by Douglas.
Eta also referred to allegations concerning payments linked to Siemens AG, saying the Senate report stated that Douglas received at least $1.7 million in alleged bribe payments connected to Siemens, while a civil complaint by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had alleged $2.8 million in bribe payments.
He further cited questions surrounding approximately $14 million transferred by offshore corporations to American University in connection with consulting services relating to the establishment of the institution in Nigeria.
On allegations in Nigeria, Eta recalled claims made in 2023 concerning the alleged use of companies and bank accounts as Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to divert or misappropriate public funds during Atiku’s tenure as Vice-President between 1999 and 2007.
He said the allegations, attributed to Michael Achimugu, a former aide to Atiku, subsequently formed the basis of a petition by Festus Keyamo to the EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).
According to Eta, the 2023 petition raised allegations bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation, conspiracy and possible violations of the Code of Conduct applicable to public officers.
