Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to produce evidence linking him to alleged wrongdoing in the controversial $16 billion power sector expenditure, insisting that he should be prosecuted if the government has a genuine case against him.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, said the National Assembly had previously investigated the power projects but never invited him to answer any allegation of misconduct.
He explained that although he chaired the National Council on Privatisation as Vice President, the implementation of the power project was handled by the relevant minister.
“I have repeatedly asked to be investigated. I left office in 2007 and have spent much of the period since then opposing governments in power. If there is evidence that I stole public money, why has no government produced it before a court?” Atiku asked.
He challenged the Federal Government to reopen the matter, investigate him and prosecute him if credible evidence exists.
“It is still not too late. Investigate me. Invite me. Produce the evidence. Prosecute me if you have a case. But propaganda cannot substitute for evidence,” he said.
Atiku accused the Tinubu administration and its supporters of reviving old allegations to divert attention from questions over how government revenues generated after the removal of the petrol subsidy are being managed.
He said Nigerians had been promised that subsidy removal would free funds for development, but lamented that the cost of petrol, transportation and food had risen while workers’ purchasing power had declined.
“So our question remains brutally simple: where is the people’s money?” he asked.
Atiku also questioned the continued use of tax incentives, waivers, credits and other concessions, which he alleged were benefiting powerful economic interests.
He dismissed attacks against him on social media, insisting that they would not stop him from demanding transparency and accountability from the Federal Government.
“If you have evidence against Atiku, bring it. If you have a case, prosecute it. But if you have neither, stop manufacturing distractions and answer Nigerians: You removed the subsidy. You collected the savings. Where is the money?” he asked.
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