The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has criticized APC spokesman Felix Morka's recent attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. In a statement by its Director of Strategic Communications, Phrank Shaibu, the council accused Morka of relying on allegations and political rhetoric rather than documented evidence. Shaibu challenged Morka to produce any court judgment convicting Atiku of wrongdoing if such a judgment exists. This criticism comes amid rising concerns over the cost of food, fuel, transport, and electricity in Nigeria.
The council questioned the APC's criticism of Atiku over his record, citing a 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture involving $460,000 in funds associated with President Bola Tinubu. The forfeiture arose from a U.S. investigation into alleged narcotics trafficking. Court records alleged probable cause that funds in accounts controlled by Tinubu were connected to transactions involving proceeds of drug trafficking. Tinubu has denied wrongdoing and was never criminally charged or convicted in the matter. Shaibu said the APC should allow Nigerians to examine the relevant records.
The current U.S. case is a civil records-disclosure dispute under the Freedom of Information Act. The FBI has submitted hundreds of pages of records to the federal court, but the documents remain under seal pending the court's determination on what can be released or redacted. Shaibu said a press statement from Abuja cannot erase a finding in a Washington courtroom. He also referred to Tinubu's appearance before Nigeria's Code of Conduct Tribunal in 2011 over allegations concerning foreign bank accounts while he was governor of Lagos State.
The charges against Tinubu were struck out after the tribunal found that the Code of Conduct Bureau had not followed the required procedure. Shaibu also cited discrepancies in Tinubu's educational records, which have previously been the subject of public and legal scrutiny. He challenged the APC's interpretation of the recent International Chamber of Commerce arbitration concerning the Mambilla power project. The ICC tribunal examined a $500,000 payment made by Leno Adesanya to Jennifer Douglas Abubakar, Atiku's former wife.
The tribunal said Adesanya had not provided sufficient documentary evidence to support his explanation that the payment was a legitimate foreign-exchange transaction. However, the tribunal also stated that there was no evidence that Atiku had actually used his official position to facilitate the award of the Mambilla contract to Sunrise. Shaibu said Morka was wrong to present the tribunal's observations as a corruption conviction against Atiku.
The council also disputed Morka's claim concerning Nigeria's foreign reserves, saying the APC spokesman had misrepresented the figures available when Tinubu assumed office. Shaibu said the Central Bank of Nigeria reported foreign reserves of $34.39 billion at the end of May 2023, rather than the $3 billion figure cited by Morka. The council said Atiku's proposed fuel subsidy would be targeted at petroleum products refined in Nigeria and designed to reduce costs for consumers.
The council challenged the APC and President Tinubu to address questions surrounding the various records cited in the statement. Shaibu said the relevant FBI records should be released, with lawful protections for confidential sources and other individuals. Let Tinubu answer the questions their contents raise. The council also highlighted Atiku's record as vice president, including his role in the Universal Basic Education programme and the National Council on Privatisation.
Key points
- The ADC Presidential Campaign Council criticizes APC's Morka for relying on allegations rather than evidence against Atiku Abubakar.
- The council questions the APC's criticism of Atiku, citing a 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture involving $460,000 in funds associated with President Bola Tinubu.
- The council disputes Morka's claim concerning Nigeria's foreign reserves, saying the APC spokesman had misrepresented the figures available when Tinubu assumed office.
