EFCC Reopens Atiku Case Following Fresh Petition Over 2006 Corruption Report
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reopened its investigation into allegations of financial misconduct involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar following a petition seeking his prosecution.
According to Vanguard,the petition was filed by former House of Representatives member, Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, who urged the anti-graft agency to revisit its earlier investigation into the allegations and take appropriate legal action.
The development centres on an EFCC report from September 2006 and a subsequent report released on February 4, 2010, by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
Agbonayinma disclosed that the EFCC had acknowledged his petition, dated August 27, 2026, which was received by the commission on September 1. The petition was submitted through his lawyer, Chief Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN.
The former lawmaker subsequently visited the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, where he formally adopted the petition and responded to questions from investigators.
Speaking on the matter, Agbonayinma insisted that the allegations should not be abandoned, arguing that the anti-graft agency must ensure accountability regardless of an individual’s political standing or influence.
He commended the commission for its previous investigative efforts, urging it to act on its findings rather than allow the matter to remain unresolved.
According to him, the law should apply equally to all Nigerians, irrespective of their social status or political connections.
In his petition, Agbonayinma asked the EFCC to review its September 2006 report alongside the 2010 US Senate subcommittee report, which he argued should provide a basis for renewed investigation and possible prosecution.
The petition further alleged that the commission had previously indicated that Atiku could be prosecuted after leaving office as vice-president, when his constitutional immunity no longer applied. However, the former lawmaker questioned why no prosecution subsequently took place.
Agbonayinma described the alleged failure to pursue the case as a dereliction of duty, maintaining that renewed action would demonstrate the EFCC’s commitment to holding politically influential individuals accountable.
He also revealed that he had petitioned US President Donald Trump over the allegations.
Meanwhile, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale had yet to respond to messages seeking clarification on the status of the investigation as of the time of filing this report.
