The Presidency has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of attempting to internationalise domestic politics after reports that a U.S.-based lobbying firm acting on his behalf submitted documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s historical U.S. civil forfeiture case to the Trump administration and members of Congress.
The Presidency has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of trying to damage Nigeria’s international image through reported lobbying efforts in the United States targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The response follows reports that Von Batten-Montague-York (VBMY), a Washington-based lobbying firm retained by Atiku, submitted documents relating to Tinubu’s decades-old U.S. civil forfeiture proceedings to officials in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, members of Congress and the U.S. State Department.
Presidency Defends Tinubu
In a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described the lobbying campaign as desperate and politically motivated.
Onanuga alleged that Atiku was attempting to revive issues that had long been addressed by U.S. authorities and Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
He further argued that if Atiku had committed similar offences in a country with stricter anti-corruption enforcement, “he would be rotting in jail,” referencing China while criticising the former vice president’s record.
Atiku’s Lobbying Campaign
The controversy stems from disclosures by VBMY that it had begun sharing publicly available U.S. Department of Justice records relating to Tinubu’s historical civil forfeiture case with senior American officials.
The lobbying firm has maintained that its engagement is intended to encourage transparency and ensure that relevant public records are available to U.S. policymakers.
Neither Atiku nor the lobbying firm has alleged that Tinubu is currently facing criminal proceedings in the United States. The documents referenced relate to a 1993 civil forfeiture settlement, not a criminal conviction.
Presidency Accuses Atiku of Damaging Nigeria’s Image
The Presidency argued that lobbying foreign governments against a sitting Nigerian president undermines national interests and could negatively affect Nigeria’s diplomatic standing.
According to Onanuga, political disagreements should be resolved through Nigeria’s democratic institutions rather than by seeking foreign intervention.
He maintained that President Tinubu remains focused on governance and strengthening Nigeria’s international partnerships despite continued political criticism.
Tinubu’s U.S. civil forfeiture case has remained a recurring issue in Nigeria’s political discourse.
The case arose from a 1993 civil forfeiture involving funds linked to bank accounts in the United States. It was a civil asset forfeiture proceeding, not a criminal prosecution. During litigation arising from the 2023 presidential election, Nigerian courts considered issues relating to the records before ultimately upholding Tinubu’s election.
The latest controversy concerns the political use of those historical records rather than any new legal proceedings against the President.