Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has warned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against inviting former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for questioning over alleged financial crimes.
Melaye spoke on Thursday at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) All Support Groups town hall meeting in Abuja, where he criticised calls for the anti-graft agency to reopen investigations into allegations against Atiku.
The meeting, held under the theme, “Together we can Build the Nigeria We Desire,” focused on grassroots mobilisation, polling-unit coordination, vote protection and the participation of youths, women and support groups ahead of the 2027 election.
Melaye said Atiku, who served as vice-president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had been investigated by government institutions over the years without being convicted.
“Atiku was part of the government that created the EFCC. You cannot use the EFCC to torment the creator of the EFCC,” he said.
He was reacting to a recent petition by former House of Representatives member Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, who asked the EFCC to reopen investigations into allegations involving Atiku.
Agbonayinma, through his lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo of Sagitarian Law Firm, gave the commission 14 days to act on the petition. The request referenced an EFCC investigation and report concerning Atiku between 2005 and 2006, when he was vice-president.
The petition also cited a 2010 report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which allegedly contained claims of money laundering and other financial crimes involving Atiku.
Melaye maintained that Atiku had already faced repeated investigations by the federal government during the Obasanjo administration.
“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.”
'Invite Atiku and see trouble’
Melaye warned the EFCC and the Tinubu administration against using the commission to target Atiku for political reasons.
“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,” he said.
“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 also referred to the 2011 Tunisian revolution, warning that Nigerians could challenge the government if they believed state institutions were being used against opposition figures.
“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.”
‘They have investigated Atiku everywhere’
Melaye further questioned the need to revisit allegations against Atiku, saying the former vice-president had already been subjected to extensive investigations.
“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.
His comments came days after Atiku rejected calls for the EFCC to reopen investigations into the allegations.
Atiku said the issues had previously been examined by the EFCC, an administrative panel, the National Assembly and the courts. He maintained that no court had convicted him over the allegations and challenged anyone with credible evidence against him to present it for legal scrutiny.
The former vice-president also accused supporters of President Bola Tinubu of reviving old allegations to divert attention from the country’s economic and security challenges.
The EFCC has not publicly stated whether it will act on Agbonayinma’s petition.
