Presidency Dismisses Atiku’s Claims of EFCC Probe and Sanwo-Olu Support
The Presidency has rejected as baseless and misleading the recent claims made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who alleged that he is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over financial dealings linked to Lagos State government.
In a statement released on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency dismissed the allegations as a “desperate attempt” by Atiku to stay politically relevant by making unfounded accusations and relying on social media rumors.
“These claims, circulated through his media office, are false and reflect a troubling pattern of relying on social media gossip over substance,” the statement read.
Atiku, who ran for president in the 2023 election but was defeated, had claimed that the EFCC was investigating him in relation to financial activities involving Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. However, the Presidency labeled these assertions as “infantile” and a “transparent ploy to deflect from his political setbacks.”
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on addressing critical national challenges and advancing his administration’s agenda for Nigeria’s growth and stability. He has neither the time nor the inclination to engage in petty political distractions,” Onanuga stated.
The statement also criticized Atiku for not assuming the role of a statesman following his electoral defeat, instead opting to stoke division with “unfounded accusations and unproductive rhetoric.”
Furthermore, the Presidency reaffirmed the independence of the EFCC, rejecting any insinuation of external influence on the agency’s operations. The statement emphasized that such claims were not only false but harmful to the EFCC’s credibility and its commitment to upholding the rule of law.
“The EFCC, as an independent institution, operates within its statutory mandate without external influence. Any insinuation otherwise is a disservice to the agency’s professionalism and the rule of law,” the statement concluded.
Onanuga urged Atiku to redirect his energy toward making constructive contributions that foster unity, economic development, and democratic stability, emphasizing that these values are most needed by Nigeria at this time.
