{
  "id": 3653482,
  "title": "$16bn Power Project: Probe Me If You Have Evidence, Atiku Tells FG",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/16bn-power-project-probe-me-if-you-have-evidence-atiku-tells-fg",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T03:24:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/08/27/16bn-power-project-probe-me-if-you-have-evidence-atiku-tells-fg/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Nigerian federal government to investigate him if it possesses evidence of wrongdoing related to the $16 billion power project allegations. In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Atiku accused the government of recycling old allegations to divert attention from questions about the management of Nigeria's resources, including funds saved from the removal of fuel subsidies.\n\nThe statement also alleged that the sudden resurgence of accusations concerning the power sector, privatization, and public assets was intended to divert attention from the economic hardships faced by millions of Nigerians. Atiku maintained that he was not invited to answer any allegations of wrongdoing during the National Assembly's investigation of power projects and that he disagreed with the concept of the power project but did not preside over its implementation.\n\nAtiku emphasized that if there was evidence of him stealing public money, no government had presented it before a court during his tenure as Vice President from 2007 to the present. He urged the government to investigate him, produce evidence, and prosecute him if there is a case. However, Atiku stressed that propaganda could not replace evidence and that he would continue demanding accountability and proposing economic policies to restore purchasing power for Nigerians.",
  "summary": "• Says recycled allegations won’t explain opaque subsidy dealings • Presidency knocks ex-VP, accuses him of making 3 U-turns in a week Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former",
  "key_points": [
    "Atiku challenges FG to investigate him if evidence exists for $16bn power project allegations.",
    "Allegations aim to divert attention from Nigeria's resource management and economic hardships.",
    "Atiku denies wrongdoing during his Vice President tenure, urges government to present evidence."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Atiku Abubakar's call for investigation into himself over the $16 billion power project allegations signals a heightened political showdown, with both sides trading accusations and counter-accusations over accountability and governance.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}