The Code of Conduct Bureau will begin investigations into a petition alleging that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar used a Special Purpose Vehicle to divert funds between 1999 and 2007.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, had filed a petition against Atiku at the Federal High Court, Abuja joining CCB, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively, while Atiku is the first defendant.
In the suit, Keyamo sought a declaration of the court that Atiku was legally obligated to make available to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants information in respect of a bank account belonging to a company, Marine Float.
To aid the investigations, Keyamo also sought a declaration that the former VP was under legal obligation to make available information in respect of accounts of certain companies which he disclosed to one Michael Achimugu, as to how the said accounts were used as a “Special Purpose Vehicles” to secretly divert and misappropriate public funds between 1999 and 2007 when the 1st Defendant served as Vice President of Nigeria.
The CCB, on Tuesday, formally confirmed receipt of the petition and extended an invitation to Keyamo.
Festus Keyamo Chambers confirmed the invitation on Thursday in a press release signed by John Ainetor, Assistant Head of Chambers, in Lagos.
He said,
“The Bureau has invited our client Mr Festus Keyamo to come forward to adopt his petition and to help it to secure the presence of the whistleblower, Mr Michael Achimugu, to assist in the investigation.
“Mr Keyamo assures that the crusade for accountability in respect of this issue was not a campaign gimmick, as he promises to follow it through to a logical conclusion, even after the victory of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.”
Efforts to get Atiku’s reaction failed as several calls put to his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, were rejected.
He also didn’t respond to a text message sent to his line.