Alleged money laundering: Keyamo sues Atiku, gives ICPC, EFCC 7 days to prosecute him

Spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, has asked a federal high court in Abuja to compel law enforcement agencies to prosecute the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

The APC presidential campaign council had earlier asked law enforcement agencies to arrest Atiku and prosecute him within seven days based on an audio recording released by Michael Achimugu, his former aide.

In the audio, the former vice-president is alleged to have explained how shell organisations were set up to divert public funds.

In a letter addressed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Conduct of Conduct Bureau (CCB), on Monday, Keyamo gave the agencies 72 hours to begin prosecution of Abubakar.

Keyamo also alleged that Abubakar is in violation of section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and section 96(1) of the Penal Code.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2023, Keyamo is asking the court for a mandatory order compelling Atiku “to submit himself to the CCB, ICPC and EFCC for thorough investigation”.

According to the suit, Keyamo said Abubakar needs to be investigated over his alleged connection “with information available to him in respect of a certain bank account belonging to a company named Marine Float and other accounts of two undisclosed companies, which information he disclosed to a certain close aide of his called Michael Achimugu, as to how the said accounts were used as a ‘Special Purpose Vehicles’ to secretly divert and misappropriate public funds between 1999 and 2007 when the 1st defendant (Atiku) served as vice president of Nigeria.”

Keyamo is also seeking an order of the court compelling the anti-graft agencies “to invite and/or arrest, investigate and (if found wanting) prosecute the 1st defendant in respect of information available to the 1st defendant in respect of a certain bank account belonging to a company named Marine Float and other accounts of two undisclosed companies, which information he disclosed to a certain close aide of his called Michael Achimugu, as to how the said accounts were used as ‘special purpose vehicles’ to secretly divert and misappropriate public funds between 1999 and 2007 when the 1st defendant served as vice president of Nigeria.”