Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against inviting, interrogating or arresting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over a renewed corruption petition.
Melaye, a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the opposition party would mobilise Nigerians if Atiku were subjected to what he described as a politically motivated or frivolous investigation.
Speaking in a video posted on his X account, Melaye said any attempt to use the petition as a basis for arresting or questioning Atiku would trigger a political response from the ADC.
He declared that the party would use the situation to demonstrate that political authority ultimately belongs to the Nigerian people rather than those occupying government positions.
The warning comes against the backdrop of a renewed petition seeking action against Atiku over financial allegations dating back to his tenure as vice president.
The petition was filed by Ehiozuwa J. Agbonayinma, a former member of the House of Representatives and former Code of Conduct Bureau official, and reportedly asks the EFCC to revisit issues connected to an earlier investigation involving Atiku.
The allegations relate to events surrounding the Petroleum Technology Development Fund during the 2005–2006 period. Atiku was previously investigated in connection with allegations including abuse of office, money laundering and diversion of funds.
However, the history of the matter is contested.
An earlier EFCC administrative indictment against Atiku was subsequently challenged in court. A Lagos State High Court in 2006 reportedly set aside the indictment, with the court finding procedural and constitutional flaws in the process.
Atiku has also rejected the renewed calls for investigation, arguing that the allegations have previously been examined by several institutions without resulting in a criminal conviction against him.
His camp has described the renewed push as political and questioned why allegations dating back nearly two decades are being revived as he prepares to contest the 2027 presidential election on the ADC platform.
Melaye’s intervention therefore comes at a particularly sensitive point in Nigeria’s political calendar.
Atiku was recently confirmed as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election, while the opposition coalition built around the party has increasingly positioned itself as the principal challenger to President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
For Melaye and other ADC figures, any move against Atiku could therefore be interpreted not simply as a law-enforcement matter but as part of the broader political struggle ahead of the election.
The EFCC has not publicly announced that Atiku has been arrested or charged in connection with the renewed petition. It is also important to distinguish Melaye’s warning from any formal decision by the anti-graft agency.
The controversy has nevertheless placed the EFCC under renewed political scrutiny, particularly over questions about whether anti-corruption institutions can investigate high-profile political figures without allegations of political interference.
Melaye’s comments also raise the stakes around the relationship between law enforcement and electoral politics as Nigeria approaches another fiercely contested presidential election.
The ADC has increasingly sought to present itself as a broad opposition platform capable of mobilising support across different political constituencies. Any confrontation involving its presidential candidate could therefore have consequences extending beyond the immediate allegations.
For now, the central issue remains whether the renewed petition will lead to any formal action by the EFCC.
Until such action is announced, allegations against Atiku remain allegations and should not be treated as proof of criminal wrongdoing.