Former Rep Member Gives EFCC 14-Day Ultimatum To Reopen Atiku Case

A former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, has given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission a 14-day ultimatum to reopen and prosecute a financial crimes case involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

In the petition, his lawyer, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN, asked the commission to reactivate its earlier investigation into allegations involving Atiku during his tenure as vice president.

The petitioner referred to an EFCC report dated September 2006, titled “The EFCC Report on Vice-President Abubakar Atiku (Full Report).” He alleged that the report contained serious allegations involving corruption, money laundering, financial misconduct and other criminal acts.

Agbonayinma argued that although the EFCC had investigated the matter and indicated an intention to prosecute Atiku after he left office, no prosecution had followed.

Atiku served as vice president between 1999 and 2007 and is currently the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 election.

The petitioner also referred to a report produced in 2010 by a United States Senate subcommittee, claiming that it contained allegations concerning money laundering and other financial crimes involving the former vice president.

Agbonayinma urged the EFCC to review both reports and use them as a basis for reopening the matter and commencing prosecution where evidence supports criminal charges. He said resolving the allegations would help strengthen public confidence in the fight against corruption and reinforce the principle that no individual should be beyond legal scrutiny.

He argued that allowing the case to remain unresolved had raised questions about the commission’s commitment to pursuing corruption allegations involving politically influential individuals.

He demanded that the commission reactivate the investigation and take appropriate legal steps within 14 days of receiving the petition.

The petition warned that failure by the EFCC to act within the stipulated period would lead Agbonayinma to instruct his lawyers to commence legal action against the commission.

The allegations referenced in the petition remain claims requiring proper investigation and, where appropriate, judicial determination. Agbonayinma’s demand does not establish criminal liability against Atiku.

The EFCC is yet to publicly announce whether it will reopen the matter or respond to the ultimatum.