‘Resurrecting the dead’: Melaye slams fresh EFCC petition against Atiku

Former federal lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye, has condemned a petition asking the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to reopen an investigation into alleged financial crimes involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The petition concerns allegations reportedly investigated by the EFCC between 2005 and 2006, while Atiku was Nigeria’s vice president.

Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, a former member of the House of Representatives, recently gave the anti-graft agency 14 days to reopen the case.

Agbonayinma threatened to institute legal action against the EFCC if the commission failed to act before the deadline.

The petition was signed on his behalf by Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN, principal counsel at Sagitarian Law Firm.

Reacting in a video posted on his official X account, Melaye described the move as shameful, claiming the petition had been dismissed more than 10 years ago.

“It is very shameful that an unstable character like E.J. will be writing a petition to the EFCC against Atiku Abubakar to resurrect the dead,” he said.

“A petition that was thrown out over 10 years ago is what he is trying to resurrect. What is the integrity of the commercial petitioner?

“He left APC in an elaborate press conference in Edo. Within one month, he left APC, went to ADC and then NDC, and now back to APC.

“Is that a stable character? Is that a man who can pen a petition? Of course, he is myopic and disorganised.”