Melaye threatens mass action if Atiku is arrested over corruption petition

Former Senator Dino Melaye has issued a warning to the Federal Government against arresting or interrogating Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, over a corruption petition. Speaking in a video on his X account, Melaye stated that if Atiku is invited, arrested, or questioned, they will prove that the government is composed of less than one percent of the Nigerian population.

This warning comes in response to a petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by a former House of Representatives member, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, who seeks to reinstate corruption allegations against Atiku dating back to his time as Vice-President. The allegations, reported to date back to 2005 and 2006, accused Atiku of abuse of office, money laundering, and diversion of funds linked to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.

However, the Federal Government dismissed these allegations in 2006, deeming them unconstitutional and flawed, and no criminal conviction resulted from the case. Atiku, who previously denied the accusations, described them as politically motivated. The renewed petition raises concerns as Atiku prepares to contest the 2027 presidential election under the ADC, while opposition politicians attempt to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress.