A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has dismissed long-standing allegations of corruption against former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that successive Nigerian leaders would have ensured his prosecution if there were credible grounds to do so.
Momodu argued that Atiku had served under, and remained politically active during, the administrations of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and now President Bola Tinubu, without facing any formal indictment for corruption.
Speaking on Monday night during an X Space discussion titled “Avrilsspace: The Electoral Mathematics for 2027,” Momodu challenged critics to present verifiable evidence linking Atiku to corrupt practices before any anti-graft agency.
“If Atiku Abubakar were truly corrupt, there is no way he would have escaped prosecution under Obasanjo or subsequent governments,” he said. “So far, nothing written or said about him has been substantiated.”
He maintained that despite the well-documented political rift between Atiku and Obasanjo during their years in office, no case of corruption was successfully brought against the former Vice-President.
Momodu urged anyone in possession of concrete evidence to approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission or the Code of Conduct Tribunal, stressing that allegations without proof remained mere speculation.
Beyond the corruption debate, the ADC chieftain described Atiku as a committed democrat and seasoned administrator, noting that his leadership style discourages violence, thuggery and militancy.
He said his personal assessment of Atiku deepened during the period he served as Director of Strategic Communications between 2022 and 2023, where he observed what he described as inclusive leadership and administrative competence.
According to Momodu, Atiku’s cosmopolitan outlook and calm political disposition have often worked against him in Nigeria’s charged political environment, even as he remains accessible and tolerant of dissenting views.
Reiterating his position, Momodu said any credible indictment against Atiku should be made public, adding that Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions remain open to investigate any genuine claim.
“Atiku’s record is in the public domain,” he said. “If there is evidence anywhere that he looted public funds or abused office, Nigerians deserve to know.”
