2027 Poll: EFCC may shelve request to reopen old case against Atiku – Sources

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may not immediately act on a petition seeking the reopening and prosecution of a 2006 alleged financial crimes case involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, sources within the commission have indicated.

The development is reportedly linked to the proximity of the 2027 presidential election, in which Atiku is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

A former member of the House of Representatives and ex-member of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Hon. Ehiozuwa J. Agbonayinma, had asked the EFCC to revisit the matter in a petition dated August 27, 2026.

The petition, filed through his lawyers, Sagitarian Law Firm, was signed by the firm’s Principal Counsel, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, and was received at the office of the EFCC chairman on September 1.

Agbonayinma said the petition was intended to remind the anti-graft agency of an investigation previously conducted following a request by the United States to the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

However, Atiku dismissed the renewed allegations, describing them as an attempt by political opponents to divert attention from the economic difficulties Nigerians are facing.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice-president said the revival of allegations dating back to the political battles of the Obasanjo administration showed that his opponents had run out of answers to issues such as hunger, declining purchasing power and the rising cost of living.

Atiku described the renewed focus on the old allegations as a desperate search for controversy at a time when, according to him, his opponents were unable to defend their economic record.

Agbonayinma, however, rejected suggestions that his petition was politically motivated.

He maintained that the move had nothing to do with the 2027 general elections, insisting that his objective was to promote accountability and ensure that the EFCC revisited a matter it had previously investigated.

The EFCC has not officially announced whether it will reopen the case.

Several calls and messages sent to officials of the commission were reportedly unanswered as of the time of filing the report.

However, a source within the commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said the EFCC was “not likely to look into the petition because of its closeness to the 2027 election.”

The source said proceeding with the matter at this stage could create the impression that the commission was targeting the ADC presidential candidate for political reasons.

Another EFCC source, also speaking anonymously, said there was currently no indication that the commission was investigating the matter.

The controversy comes after the EFCC’s recent action involving the Osun State Government, whose accounts were reportedly frozen over alleged financial irregularities amounting to N11 billion.

The action, which occurred days before the August 15 governorship election, generated controversy before President Bola Tinubu directed the commission to vacate the court order and discontinue the action against the state government’s account.

Reacting to the Atiku controversy, ADC chairman in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Bello Ibrahim Tambuwal, also known as Dan-Marafa, argued that any EFCC investigation into Atiku at this time could amount to a politically motivated witch-hunt.

He linked the alleged move to the opposition’s preparations for the 2027 election, arguing that Atiku’s campaign positions on issues including fuel subsidy, border reopening, Hajj subsidy and insecurity had increased his political appeal.

Tambuwal further argued that Atiku had been out of office as vice-president for 19 years without, according to him, facing an investigation by either the EFCC or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the matter.

He alleged that the timing of the renewed attention was aimed at intimidating the opposition and weakening its chances in the 2027 election.

Another ADC chieftain in Sokoto State, Hon. Attahiru Umar Danmadi, took a different approach, saying Atiku should have no reason to fear a genuine and impartial investigation if the EFCC decides to revisit the matter.

Danmadi said Atiku had previously invited relevant authorities to investigate him and therefore had nothing to hide.

He nevertheless described the renewed allegations as politically motivated attempts to damage the former vice-president’s reputation ahead of the 2027 election.

As of the time of filing the report, the EFCC had not officially confirmed whether it would reopen the 2006 matter or commence a fresh investigation against Atiku.

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