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The Presidency has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over reports that his lobbying group in the United States (US) submitted petitions to US President Donald Trump and the State Department over a 1993 civil forfeiture case involving President Bola Tinubu.
The presidency described the move as an attempt to interfere in Nigeria’s domestic affairs and weaken the country’s sovereignty.
In a statement publicised on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the 1993 case was resolved more than three decades ago, with no criminal conviction or finding of guilt against Tinubu.
It said reviving the matter through foreign lobbyists was “an attempt to externalise domestic politics and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.”
Onanuga said, “Reporting the President of Nigeria to another country’s leader is not only inappropriate but also undermines the nation’s dignity and independence.”
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation, not a satellite of any foreign power,” he added.
The Presidency argued that Nigerians had already settled the matter through the 2023 presidential election and the Supreme Court’s judgment, which affirmed Tinubu’s victory.
“Nigerians resolved this matter at the ballot in February 2023 and in the Supreme Court. That verdict stands, and Atiku’s latest fishing expedition would amount to nought,” the statement said.
The Presidency also accused Atiku of having unresolved legal controversies in the United States, citing past allegations linked to a US bribery investigation involving former Congressman William Jefferson and a 2010 US Senate report on foreign corruption.
Onanuga alleged that the report raised questions about the movement of funds through offshore companies involving Atiku and his associates.
“Furthermore, if Atiku Abubakar can spend $1.2m on American lobbyists to report President Tinubu, perhaps he should also clarify his own legal standing in the United States,” he said.
The Presidency also criticised Atiku’s role in the privatisation programme during his tenure as Vice President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, alleging that the process led to job losses and other economic challenges.
It further questioned Atiku’s political ambitions, alleging that his actions were targeted at gaining foreign support and avoiding possible legal issues.
However, Onanuga said Tinubu remained focused on his administration’s agenda.
“President Tinubu is unfazed by Atiku’s theatrics as he remains focused on his Renewed Hope Agenda, stabilising the economy, attracting investments, securing the nation, and restoring Nigeria’s standing in the world,” he said.
Atiku contested the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but lost to Tinubu.
He has since moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of his 2027 presidential ambition.
