UPDATE: FG slams fresh N156m corruption allegation against Atiku

THE Federal Government on Friday has slammed a fresh N156 million allegation on the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The FG asked Atiku who is presently on a visit to the United States of America, to return home and explain his role in the collapse of Platinum Habib Bank also known as Bank PHB.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who said this at a press conference with State House correspondents in Abuja, alleged that the former Vice President benefited to the tune of N156 million slush money through Claremont Management Services Account on 13th January 2009 that led to the collapse of the bank.

He said the All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government is not concerned about Atiku’s trip but keen to hear his defence of the corruption that led to the demise of the bank, adding: “If he likes he can stay there and obtain the American Green Card.”

The PDP presidential flag bearer traveled to the US on Thursday after 13 years having been initially barred by the country’s authorities.

Recall that Mohammed had earlier admonished the US authorities not to issue traveling visa to the former Vice President so close to the election as it might be perceived as American support for him.

Mohammed said a memo was raised in 2009 for the issuance and payment of N156 million to Claremont Management Services Account, saying that the onus is on Atiku to prove himself innocent.

The minister stated: “I have come to make few remarks about the recent visit of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party to the US.

“You can recall that a few weeks ago, I did issue a statement advising the US government not to issue visa to Atiku.

“Remember also that in that same press conference, I also stated that it remains the prerogative of the US government to issue visa to anyone it deems fit.

“Let me say right away that we are not perturbed one bit that Alhaji Atiku Abukakar was able to secure visa to the US. As a matter of fact, he can go ahead and get the US Green card that will not save him from imminent defeat in the forthcoming elections.

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“I want to remind Abubakar that the elections will be right here in Nigeria and not in the US.

“In any event, any time Abubakar returns home, he has questions to answer following the fresh evidence that we have that he benefitted from slush funds that led to the collapse of the former Bank PHB.

“The document we have shows that he benefitted to the tune of N156 million from that slush fund.

“The paper which we have here started from an internal memo on January 13, 2009, which reads, ‘please refer for discussion your requested overdraft in favour of Atiku Abubakar for N156 million and deliver same to me. Please note that it must be delivered today (January 13) on the same date.’”

He further stated that another memo was generated to confirm the receipt of the alleged slush fund.

Mohammed read out the memo: “‘Please, confirm that the amount stated below be issued from Claremont Management Services account.”

“And we have evidence here of the account mandate, the name of Atiku Abubakar. We also have a copy of the cheque in which the sum of N156 million was issued to Atiku Abubakar dated Jan. 13, 2009.

“And of course we also have a statement of account within that period that confirms that this sum was actually paid into his account.

“These are fresh evidence as to his involvement in the collapse of Bank PHB. So, we want him to stay as long he wants in the US. But as soon he comes back; he has to explain to the electorate and to Nigerians what was his role in the collapse in the former Bank PHB.”

When pressed to say if the ruling APC government was disturbed about Atiku’s visit to the US, he said, “He can go ahead and get the US Green card; any time he comes back, has questions to answer.”