The Presidency has dismissed claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that he is under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over financial transactions involving the Lagos State Government.
Atiku had alleged on Thursday that the EFCC was probing him in connection with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
However, in a statement on Friday, March 28, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku’s claims as “baseless and misleading,” accusing him of using social media gossip to stay politically relevant.
“These claims, circulated through his media office, are false and reflect a troubling pattern of relying on social media gossip over substance,” the statement read.
Onanuga said President Bola Tinubu remained focused on national issues and had no time for distractions.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on addressing critical national challenges and advancing his administration’s agenda for Nigeria’s growth and stability.
“He has neither the time nor the inclination to engage in petty political distractions,” he stated.
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The Presidency also accused Atiku of refusing to embrace the role of a statesman since his electoral defeat, instead engaging in “unfounded accusations and unproductive rhetoric.”
Onanuga emphasised that the EFCC operates independently and warned against insinuations of external interference in the agency’s work.
“The EFCC, as an independent institution, operates within its statutory mandate without external influence. Any insinuation otherwise is a disservice to the agency’s professionalism and the rule of law,” the statement noted.
He urged Atiku to focus on constructive contributions that promote unity, economic growth, and democratic stability.
“Atiku’s allegations are infantile and a transparent ploy to deflect from his political setbacks. His repeated attempts to drag the Presidency and now the Lagos State Government into fabricated controversies reveal a desperate bid for attention amid his fading attempt to cobble a coalition.
“Since his defeat in the 2023 presidential election, the former Vice President has failed to rise to the dignified role of an elder statesman. Rather than contributing constructively to the national discourse, he has chosen the path of divisive rhetoric and unfounded accusations,” it added.