FG TO QUESTION ATIKU WHEN HE RETURNS FROM U.S, SAYS LAI MOHAMMED

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that, the candidate of the opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 General Election, Atiku Abubakar, has questions to answer when he returns from his current trip to the United States.

The government said it is investigating Mr Abubakar’s alleged role in the collapse of former Bank PHB.

Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, said this while briefing State House correspondents today.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the decision to question Mr Abubakar is “following fresh evidence that he benefitted from slush funds that led to the collapse of Bank PHB.”

The government spokesSpo said the government has in its position “paper trail which shows that he benefitted from N156 million.”

“It started from an internal memo dated 13 January 2009 asking that a draft in favour of Atiku Abubakar of 156 million should be raised,” he reported.

Mr Mohammed also said another memo on the same date was raised to confirm that the amount was raised from a “claimant management account.”

He said the government has proof of the account mandate, cheque and account statement showing Mr Abubakar as the signatory to the account that received the money.

“We want him to stay in the US for as long as he wants but he has to explain to Nigerians when he returns,” he added.

The Minister further said that, on the visit of the former vice president to the U.S, the minister said the government had earlier issued a statement advising the U.S. not to issue him a visa.

Recall that, it was reported this morning on ADEKKA TV about the trip of the former Vice President of Nigeria, and the Presidential Candidate of PDP, to Washington D.C, the American capital for a U.S Chamber of Commerce event after staying off the United States for the past 12 years.