The Presidency has strongly dismissed claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that he is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial dealings with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. In a statement issued on Friday, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku’s allegations as "baseless and misleading."
Onanuga accused the former Vice President of resorting to "social media gossip" in a desperate bid to remain politically relevant. He stated, “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to the unfounded allegations made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who claims to be the subject of an EFCC investigation regarding unsubstantiated financial dealings involving Lagos State. These claims, circulated through his media office, are false and reflect a troubling pattern of relying on social media gossip over substance.”
Dismissing Atiku’s statements as politically motivated, the Presidency maintained that President Tinubu remains focused on national development and will not be distracted by frivolous accusations. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on addressing critical national challenges and advancing his administration’s agenda for Nigeria’s growth and stability. The President has neither the time nor the inclination to engage in petty political distractions.”
The statement further criticized Atiku’s continuous attempts to stir controversy following his defeat in the 2023 presidential election, accusing him of failing to assume the role of an elder statesman. “Atiku’s allegations are infantile and a transparent ploy to deflect from his political setbacks. His repeated attempts to drag the Presidency and now the Lagos State Government into fabricated controversies reveal a desperate bid for attention amid his fading attempt to cobble a coalition.”
Urging Atiku to focus on national unity and democratic stability, the Presidency stressed that the EFCC operates independently, free from external influence. “Lastly, the former Vice President should know that the EFCC, as an independent institution, operates within its statutory mandate without external influence. Any insinuation otherwise is a disservice to the agency’s professionalism and the rule of law.”
The statement concluded by reaffirming the administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the pursuit of national development, urging Atiku to channel his energies toward productive endeavors instead of political theatrics.