Alleged Mambilla $500,000 bribe: ‘Diverter-in-Chief’ — Presidency brands Atiku

The Presidency has labeled presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, as 'Diverter-in-Chief' for evading questions regarding an alleged $500,000 Mambilla project bribe. According to a statement by Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Atiku is deceiving Nigerians and dismissing the International Chamber of Commerce's indictment against him in Paris.

The Presidency accused Atiku and former Power Minister, Olu Agunloye, of awarding the contract to Sunrise Power without proper authorization from the Federal Executive Council and President Olusegun Obasanjo. They claim that Atiku received the $500,000 bribe from Sunrise and Leno Adesanya, the CEO, to approve the contract. The money allegedly went to Atiku's former wife's US Citibank account, raising suspicions with Citibank and surfacing in the US Senate investigation into Atiku's corruption and money laundering activities.

Atiku, according to the Presidency, should address the integrity issue first but instead, used a press conference to discuss his stand on petroleum subsidies and attacked the Tinubu administration. The Power Minister, Joseph Tegbe, debunked the claim that the government plans to withdraw electricity subsidies. The Presidency urged Nigerians not to be deceived by Atiku's crimes and emphasized that he does not have the people's interests at heart.