{
  "id": 3570567,
  "title": "Probe me over $16bn power spending if you have evidence, Atiku dares FG",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/probe-me-over-16bn-power-spending-if-you-have-evidence-atiku-dares-fg-3570567",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T19:10:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/probe-me-over-16bn-power-spending-if-you-have-evidence-atiku-dares-fg/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Federal Government to investigate him if it possesses evidence linking him to the alleged $16bn power expenditure during his tenure as government. Atiku, the presidential nominee of the African Democratic Congress, also accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of reiterating old allegations to divert attention from the impact of petrol subsidy removal. He made these remarks in a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Wednesday. Atiku claimed that the resurgence of allegations surrounding power-sector projects, privatization, and public assets was an attempt to shift public focus from the economic hardships faced by Nigerians. He also questioned the government's handling of the resources gained since petrol subsidy removal, asking, “Where is the people’s money?” Atiku emphasized that he had been repeatedly accused of wrongdoing over the years without facing any prosecution. He stated that while he chaired the National Council on Privatization as Vice President, his disagreement with the concept of the power projects prevented him from presiding over their implementation. The statement comes amid a growing political conflict between the opposition and the Federal Government over the economy and the consequences of subsidy removal.",
  "summary": "Atiku Abubakar challenges the Federal Government to probe him over alleged $16bn power spending, accusing them of diverting attention from subsidy removal Read More: https://punchng.com/probe-me-over-16bn-power-spending-if-you-have-evidence-atiku-dares-fg/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "2027: Investigate me — Atiku speaks on $16bn power projects scandal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/2027-investigate-me-atiku-speaks-on-16bn-power-projects-scandal",
        "published": "2026-08-26T18:33:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Probe me over $16bn power spending if you have evidence, Atiku dares FG",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/probe-me-over-16bn-power-spending-if-you-have-evidence-atiku-dares-fg",
        "published": "2026-08-26T18:58:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "$16bn power saga: Investigate me if you have evidence, Atiku tells FG",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/16bn-power-saga-investigate-me-if-you-have-evidence-atiku-tells-fg",
        "published": "2026-08-26T18:59:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}