“Invite Him And See Trouble” – Dino Melaye Warns EFCC Over Atiku Probe

Former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye has warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against investigating former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over allegations of financial crimes.

Dino Melaye spoke in Abuja at a town hall meeting organised by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) All Support Groups.

He criticised calls for the EFCC to reopen investigations into allegations involving Atiku.

According to him, Atiku had been investigated several times by government agencies over the years but had not been convicted of any financial crime.

“Atiku was part of the government that created the EFCC. You cannot use the EFCC to torment the creator of the EFCC,” he said.

His comments followed a petition by former House of Representatives member Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, who asked the EFCC to resume investigations into Atiku and prosecute him over alleged financial crimes.

Agbonayinma, through his lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo of Sagitarian Law Firm, reportedly gave the commission 14 days to take action on the petition.

The petition referred to an EFCC investigation and report involving Atiku from 2005 and 2006, when he was vice-president.

It also cited a 2010 report from the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which contained allegations of money laundering and other financial offences.

However, the allegations referenced in the petition have not led to a criminal conviction against Atiku.

In his reaction, Melaye said Atiku had already faced repeated investigations during and after the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He claimed that 13 cases involving Atiku and the federal government had been decided in Atiku’s favour.

Melaye also warned that the ADC would resist what he described as politically motivated efforts to use the EFCC against Atiku ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He directed another warning at President Bola Tinubu, saying the ADC would react if Atiku was invited, arrested or questioned by the EFCC because of what he described as weak or politically motivated petitions.

“I, as Dino Melaye, I am aware that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have been investigated by Olusegun Obasanjo and the federal government time and time and time and time again,” he said.

“In fact, federal government versus Atiku Abubakar, 13 cases. And Atiku Abubakar won all the 13 cases..

“My note of warning is this. And this note of warning is straight to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That the day EFCC invites Atiku Abubakar before election, then Tinubu will know that government is not owned by those in government.

“Government is owned by the people. Any day, due to these frivolous petitions, you invite, arrest or interview Atiku Abubakar, and we are not saying it with fear or favour; we mean it. Invite Atiku and see trouble.”

He referred to the 2011 uprising in Tunisia, suggesting that Nigerians could also challenge the government if they believed state institutions were being used to target opposition politicians.

Melaye argued that government belongs to the people and not only to those holding political office.

“We will tell you that what happened in Tunisia can happen in Nigeria. We will prove to you that those in government are less than one percent of the population of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

“We will prove to you that the people own government. Government is not owned by those in government.”

He also questioned the reason for revisiting allegations against Atiku after years of investigations, saying authorities had already examined the former vice-president from different angles.

“They have investigated Atiku everywhere. The only thing they are yet to find out about Atiku is where his placenta was buried. They have done everything,” he said.

Atiku has previously rejected demands for the EFCC to reopen the allegations.

He said the issues had been considered by the anti-graft agency, an administrative panel, the National Assembly and the courts.

The former vice-president maintained that no court had found him guilty of the allegations and challenged anyone with credible evidence against him to present it through the appropriate legal process.

Atiku also accused supporters of the Tinubu administration of bringing back old allegations in an attempt to shift attention away from Nigeria’s economic and security problems.

The EFCC has not publicly announced whether it will act on Agbonayinma’s petition.

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