Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, has been invited by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), over the investigation of Atiku Abubakar for alleged diversion of public funds from 1999 to 2007, when the latter held sway as Nigeria’s Vice President.
As President-elect Tinubu’s campaign spokesperson, Keyamo had asked security agencies in the country to arrest Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over the confessions of a whistle-blower.
Keyamo cited a video clip made by one Michael Achimugu, a former aide of the PDP standard bearer.
Keyamo alleged that as vice president between 1999 and 2007, Atiku colluded with his then boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, to steal Nigeria’s money through “Special Purpose Vehicles” (SPVs).
He also stated that Atiku does not enjoy immunity simply because he was a presidential candidate.
APC candidate Tinubu, asked the former vice president to apologise to Nigerians and renounce his presidential ambition.
However, Keyamo, who was spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, on Thursday in a post on his verified Twitter handle, noted that he has been invited for the commencement of investigation into the allegation.
This was made known in a letter he posted titled ‘RE: SEVENTY-TWO (72) HOUR ULTIMATUM TO ARREST/INVITE, INTERROGATE AND PROSECUTE ONE ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR FOR OFFENCES AGAINST THE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS, OFFENCE OF MONEY LAUNDERING, OFFENCE OF CRIMINAL BREACH OF TRUST AND CRIMINAL MISAPPROPRIATION AND OFFENCE OF CONSPIRACY.’
The statement partly reads; “Pursuant to the mandate and powers of the Bureau as enshrined in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Paragraph 3(e) to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I am directed to invite you for an interview in respect of the above subject matter.
“This invitation is to enable you adopt the aforementioned petition and to provide any additional information that may be material to this investigation.
“You are requested to come along with one MICHAEL ACHIMUGU, to assist with enquiries regarding the attachments to your petition. Upon arrival, you are to ask to see the Director, Investigation, Intelligence & Monitoring.”