EFCC reopens financial crimes investigation against Atiku Abubakar 20 years after leaving office

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reopened investigation with a bid to prosecute the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over financial crimes when he served as Vice President to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2006.

The criminal investigation was at the instance of petition lodged by the former member of the House of Representatives Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, seeking to prosecute Atiku Abubakar who is now.a presidential candidate of the opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC in the forthcoming general election.

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The petition sought to investigate Atiku over a case dating back to his tenure of office as the Vice President, noting that investigation and prosecution of Atiku would be justice served.

CAPITAL POST reports that Atiku Abubakar was alleged to have got involved in money laundering during his time with his business associate prosecuted on the United States of America.

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He has previously been investigated by the then Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu with a report from the United States Senate Subcommittee.

Hon. Agbonayinma, speaking on the development disclosed that the anti-graft agency has acknowledged his petition dated 27th August, 2026 received on 1st September, 2026.

Speaking on the development, Agbonayinma said the EFCC had acknowledged his petition, dated August 27, 2026, and received on 1st September, 2026.

The petitioner said the document was filed through his lawyer, Chief Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN, asking the agency to refresh investigation of the financial crime allegation against the former Vice President.

Speaking from the headquarters of EFCC on Jabi – Abuja where he went to adopt the petition on Wednesday, he insisted that the matter should be concluded in the interest of justice.

“I want to thank Nigerians, the EFCC, and those praying for me in this struggle. The laws are meant for both the rich and the poor. After the EFCC has done a fantastic job, it should not be kept under the table,” he said.

In the petition, Agbonayinma urged the EFCC to revisit its September 2006 report on Atiku and a February 4, 2010, report by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, arguing that both documents should form the basis for renewed action.

The petition alleged that the EFCC had previously indicated that Atiku could face prosecution after leaving office as vice-president, when his constitutional immunity ceased to apply, but that no prosecution followed.

Agbonayinma described the alleged failure to act as a dereliction of duty and argued that pursuing the matter would demonstrate the commission’s resolve to hold politically influential figures accountable.

He also disclosed that he had petitioned US President Donald Trump over the allegations.

The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, had yet to respond to messages seeking an update on the investigation as of the time of filing this report.

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