The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been petitioned to reopen and prosecute long-standing financial crime allegations involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with the petitioners giving the anti-graft agency a 14-day ultimatum before possible legal action.
Njenje Media obtained a copy of the petition, dated 27 August 2026 and stamped as received by the Office of the EFCC Executive Chairman on 1 September 2026.
The petition was filed by Sagitarian Law Firm and signed by its Principal Counsel, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN, on behalf of Hon. Ehiozuwa J. Agbonayinma, a former member of the House of Representatives and former member of the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Seven Grounds for the Petition
The petitioner relied on seven principal grounds, including allegations that:
1. The EFCC investigated allegations of grand corruption involving Atiku Abubakar between 2005 and 2006, while he was Vice President.
2. The Commission subsequently produced a report titled “The EFCC Report on Vice-President Abubakar Atiku (Full Report)”, dated September 2006.
3. According to the petition, the report contained allegations relating to sleaze, money laundering and other financial crimes.
4. The petitioner alleged that although the EFCC indicated that Atiku could be prosecuted after leaving office, when constitutional immunity would no longer apply, no prosecution subsequently followed.
5. The petition described the continued inaction as a “deliberate dereliction of duty” and alleged that it amounted to a breach of the EFCC Act.
6. The petitioner argued that while acknowledging the EFCC’s anti-corruption efforts in other cases, the continued absence of action in the Atiku matter raises questions about the Commission’s willingness to pursue politically prominent figures.
7. The petition also cited a 4 February 2010 report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which, according to the petitioner, raised allegations concerning money laundering and related financial crimes involving Atiku.
14-Day Ultimatum
The law firm is demanding that the EFCC reactivate the September 2006 investigation report and consider it alongside the 2010 U.S. Senate subcommittee report as the basis for renewed investigation and possible prosecution.
The petition warned that failure to act within 14 days would trigger legal proceedings against the Commission.
The letter states:
“TAKE NOTICE that if, after 14 days of this letter, your Commission, the EFCC, refuses or neglects to act, our further instruction is to take legal action against your Commission.”
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had not publicly responded to the petition.
Atiku Abubakar has previously denied allegations of wrongdoing and has publicly challenged authorities to investigate and prosecute him where credible evidence exists.
Importantly, the allegations contained in the petition remain allegations and have not been established against Atiku in court.
Njenje Media will continue to monitor the EFCC’s response and any legal action that may follow the expiration of the 14-day notice.
