Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has raised the alarm over a possible invitation, arrest or interrogation of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by the Federal Government over a corruption petition before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Melaye warned that any attempt to use the petition to target the former Vice-President would trigger a strong response from the ADC and its supporters, insisting that political power ultimately belongs to the Nigerian people.
In a video shared on his X account on Friday, Melaye said the government should not mistake its control of state institutions for control over the people, declaring that those in government represented only a tiny fraction of the Nigerian population.
“This is our note of warning, if due to this frivolous petitions you invite, arrest, or interview Atiku Abubakar, and we are not saying it with fear or favour, we will prove to you that those in government are less than one percent of the population of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We will prove to you that the people own government,” Melaye said.
His warning came after a petition was submitted to the EFCC by former member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, asking the commission to reopen corruption allegations against Atiku dating back to his tenure as Vice-President.
The petition, signed by Agbonayinma’s lawyer, Hannibal Uwaifo, SAN, reportedly referenced an earlier EFCC investigation and report concerning allegations levelled against the former Vice-President.
The allegations originated from investigations conducted in 2005 and 2006 by the EFCC and an administrative panel over claims bordering on abuse of office, money laundering and alleged diversion of funds linked to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).
Atiku, who was Vice-President at the time, denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.
The matter also went before the Lagos State High Court, which, on December 20, 2006, set aside the EFCC’s administrative indictment against Atiku, describing the process as unconstitutional and flawed.
The allegations did not result in a criminal conviction against the former Vice-President.
Melaye’s latest intervention comes amid renewed political activity surrounding Atiku’s 2027 presidential bid on the ADC platform, with the former senator warning that any move by the authorities to invite, arrest or interrogate him over the petition could lead to mass mobilisation by his supporters.
