Former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, has petitioned United States President Donald Trump to review a historical U.S. financial-crime investigation involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. The petition, dated September 24, 2026, urges President Trump to direct U.S. authorities to revisit an investigation initiated by a June 22, 2006 letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office to Nigerian authorities. This investigation involved allegations of bribery, money laundering, and other financial transactions linked to entities and individuals associated with Atiku.
The 2006 investigative request and related records, including materials generated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), are to be reviewed. Agbonayinma also called for a fresh examination of the findings of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations arising from its February 4, 2010 hearing, Keeping Foreign Corruption Out of the United States: Four Case Histories. The subcommittee's investigation included an "Abubakar Case Study: Using Offshore Companies to Bring Suspect Funds Into the United States."
The congressional record examined millions of dollars transferred through offshore entities and U.S. financial institutions, including transactions involving Jennifer Douglas Abubakar, American University in Washington, D.C., Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd., LetsGo Ltd., Sima Holdings Ltd., and entities associated with Intels. Agbonayinma stressed that the allegations and investigative findings should not be interpreted as proof of criminal guilt.
Agbonayinma's petition emphasized that the call for review is not a declaration of guilt but a demand that authorities examine the historical investigative record to determine whether any matter remains legally actionable. He urged the U.S. authorities to examine the historical EFCC materials and determine whether any of the transactions identified in the congressional record remain within U.S. jurisdiction or are legally actionable.
The petitioner asked that if the competent authorities determine that the evidence no longer supports any legal action, they should make this clear. However, if there are matters that remain within the jurisdiction of the United States and are legally actionable, then those matters should be addressed in accordance with American law.
Agbonayinma also urged the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, and other competent agencies to cooperate with Nigerian authorities on any outstanding cross-border financial-crime issues arising from the historical investigation. This cooperation should occur where legally permissible and take account of due process, applicable statutes of limitation, evidentiary standards, and jurisdictional requirements.
The review of the 2006 investigation and related records may have implications for Atiku Abubakar and entities associated with him. The petition highlights the need for continued scrutiny of financial transactions and cooperation between U.S. and Nigerian authorities in addressing cross-border financial crimes.
Key points
- Former Rep. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma petitions President Trump to review 2006 US investigation into Atiku Abubakar
- The investigation involved allegations of bribery, money laundering, and other financial transactions linked to Atiku and associated entities
- The review may have implications for Atiku Abubakar and entities associated with him, and could lead to cooperation between U.S. and Nigerian authorities on cross-border financial crimes.
