A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairman of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Board, Hilliard Eta has called on anti-corruption agencies to investigate and prosecute the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubbakar for alleged bribery and misappropriation of $83.5 million.
Eta, who is a former National Vice chairman of the APC made the call while addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
The party chieftain who is a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council clarified that he spoke as a private citizen and not as a member of council.
He called on the appropriate law-enforcement and anti-corruption authorities to fully investigate the allegations and petitions concerning Atiku and where the evidence establishes criminal offences, prosecute him in accordance with Nigerian law.
Eta stated categorically that he was not asking anybody to convict Atiku in the court of public opinion, but the evidence be subjected to the court of law.
He recalled that a recent petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called for the reopening of financial-crime allegations concerning Atiku dating back to investigations conducted around 2005-2006.
He stressed that the petition was reportedly received by the EFCC on September 1, 2026.
The party chieftain noted that there had been renewed discussions around a 2010 United States Senate report concerning suspicious financial transactions associated with individuals connected to Atiku.
He, however, said that report is not a criminal conviction, and it did not itself result in criminal charges against him.
Eta added: “However, the allegations contained in these records and subsequent petitions are sufficiently serious to warrant proper examination by the competent Nigerian authorities.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians deserve to know precisely what has been alleged rather than dealing with vague political accusations.”
Eta recalled that there were allegations concerning the movement of more than $40 million in suspect funds into the United States between 2000 and 2008 through offshore corporations and accounts associated with Jennifer Douglas, Atiku Abubakar’s wife.
He further recalled that the U.S. Senate investigation examined transfers involving entities including LetsGo Ltd., Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd. and Sima Holding Ltd.
Eta said according to the Senate report, more than half of the funds; approximately $25 million, were transferred by offshore corporations into U.S. bank accounts opened by Douglas (Homeland Security Committee, 2010).
He added that the U.S. Senate report further examined allegations involving payments connected to Siemens AG.
Eta said the report stated that Douglas received at least $1.7 million in alleged bribe payments connected to Siemens, while an SEC civil complaint had alleged $2.8 million in bribe payments to her from Siemens.
He pointed out that there were questions concerning approximately $14 million transferred by offshore corporations to American University in connection with consulting services relating to the establishment of the university in Nigeria.
The NYSC Board Chairman stressed that the Senate report examined the source and movement of those funds and the relationship between the offshore entities and the university project founded by Atiku.
Eta added that there were allegations in Nigeria concerning the use of companies and bank accounts as so-called Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to divert or misappropriate public funds during the period Atiku served as Vice-President between 1999 and 2007.
He said these allegations became particularly prominent in 2023 following claims attributed to Michael Achimugu, described as a former aide to Atiku, adding that subsequent petitions by Festus Keyamo asked the EFCC, ICPC and CCB to investigate the allegations.
Eta explained that the 2023 petition raised allegations bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation, conspiracy and possible violations of the Code of Conduct applicable to public officers.
He stated: “These are not allegations that I am presenting as proven facts. They are matters that have appeared in official investigations, petitions, court filings and public records and which, in my view, deserve to be subjected to the full machinery of law.
“That is precisely why I am calling for due process rather than political speculation. If there is no case, let the appropriate institution say so after examining the evidence.
“If there is insufficient evidence, let Nigerians be told. But if credible evidence establishes that offences were committed, then the law must take its course. No politician should be above the law.
“This principle cannot apply only to people we disagree with. It must apply to everybody those in government, those in opposition, former presidents, former vice-presidents, ministers, governors and every Nigerian who occupies or has occupied public office.
“What concerns me particularly is the danger of allowing allegations of this magnitude to become merely political ammunition during an election season.
“We cannot have one standard when an allegation is made against a member of the governing party and another standard when the allegation concerns an opposition politician seeking the presidency.
“If Atiku Abubakar believes, as he has publicly stated, that anyone with evidence should bring it forward, then let the evidence be brought forward and independently examined.
“That is not persecution. That is accountability. And accountability is not an APC principle. It is a Nigerian principle.
“I therefore call upon the EFCC and other competent authorities to examine every credible petition, obtain the relevant records, invite the appropriate persons, follow the money where necessary, and establish the facts without fear or favour.”
Etta called on the Nigerian public to resist the temptation to turn this matter into another political shouting match.
He said: “We should not prosecute a man because we dislike his politics, nor should we refuse to prosecute a man because we support his politics.
“The question should be simple: Was a crime committed? Is there admissible evidence? Who was responsible? And does the evidence meet the threshold required by law? If the answer is yes, prosecution should follow. If the answer is no, the matter should be closed. That is how a serious democracy functions.”
When asked why he was calling for the prosecution of Atiku now, Eta maintained that there is no timeline for the prosecution of a crime.
Asked if APC was jittery since Atiku promised to reverse the removal of petrol subsidy, Eta noted that Atiku has been accumulating mileage since 1993 and had been defeated in elections before by the ruling party.