Presidency dismisses Atiku’s EFCC probe allegations as “baseless”

In response, the Presidency has categorically denied these claims, calling them “false” and “baseless.”

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement issued yesterday, criticized Atiku’s remarks, describing them as a pattern of relying on unverified social media reports.

The Presidency dismissed Atiku’s allegations as a desperate attempt to stay politically relevant, accusing him of using unfounded accusations to stir controversy.

“The Presidency has been made aware of the baseless claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alleging an EFCC probe into his financial dealings with Lagos State,” the statement read. “These claims, widely circulated by his media team, are entirely false and reflect a disturbing trend of giving credence to social media rumors rather than facts.”

The statement emphasized that President Tinubu is focused on addressing national challenges and has no interest in engaging in political distractions.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to tackling pressing national issues and advancing his administration’s agenda for Nigeria’s progress. He does not have time for baseless political drama,” Onanuga added.

The Presidency further advised Atiku to assume a more statesmanlike role instead of seeking attention through unsubstantiated claims.

“Atiku’s allegations are nothing more than a weak attempt to deflect from his political setbacks. His continued efforts to drag both the Presidency and the Lagos State Government into fabricated controversies show a desperate bid to remain in the spotlight,” the statement continued.

Since his loss in the 2023 presidential election, the former Vice President has failed to embrace the role of an elder statesman, the Presidency argued.

Instead of contributing meaningfully to national discussions, he has resorted to divisive rhetoric and baseless accusations.

The statement urged Atiku to channel his efforts toward initiatives that promote national unity, economic growth, and democratic stability—priorities Nigeria urgently requires.

Finally, the Presidency reaffirmed that the EFCC operates independently and without external influence, dismissing any suggestion to the contrary as an insult to the agency’s professionalism.

“The Presidency remains dedicated to transparency, accountability, and national development—objectives that require undivided attention,” the statement concluded.