Atiku: EFCC Under Pressure to Reopen Money Laundering Case

A former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to reopen and prosecute a case of alleged financial crimes involving the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar.

Agbonayinma, through one of his lawyers, Hannibal Uwaifo, of Sagitarian Law Firm, gave the commission 14 days to act on the request.

In a letter dated August 27 and received by the EFCC on September 1, the lawyer said the request was based on an EFCC investigation.

According to the letter, the report contained allegations of ‘sleaze, money laundering, and other serious financial crimes and other criminal acts’ involving the former vice-president.

Agbonayinma’s lawyers said the EFCC had indicated that it would prosecute Atiku after he left office, but alleged that no such prosecution took place.

They described the alleged failure to act as a ‘serious violation’ of the law establishing the EFCC.

The lawyers also referred to a February 4, 2010, report by the United States Senate Permanent Sub-Committee on Investigations, Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.

They alleged that the US report contained serious allegations involving money laundering and other financial crimes against Atiku.

The letter asked the EFCC to reactivate both the 2006 EFCC report and the 2010 US senate report as a basis for the ‘immediate prosecution’ of the former vice-president.

Agbonayinma, according to the letter, said reopening the case would demonstrate the EFCC’s willingness to tackle corruption involving high-profile individuals.

“Our client believes that the present leadership at the EFCC has all it takes to bring Nigeria out of the high corruption index for which the country is presently infamous,” the letter reads.

Agbonayinma’s lawyers warned that if the EFCC failed to act within 14 days of receiving the letter, their client had instructed them to commence legal proceedings against the commission.