“If Atiku Was Corrupt, Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, or Tinubu Would Have Prosecuted Him” — Dele Momodu

Dele Momodu, a leading figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would have faced legal action if he had engaged in corrupt activities. Speaking on Monday night during an X Space session titled “Avrilsspace: The Electoral Mathematics for 2027,” Momodu insisted that past and present Nigerian leaders—Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Bola Tinubu—would not have overlooked any proven misconduct.

Momodu challenged anyone claiming evidence of Atiku’s wrongdoing to present it to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), or the Code of Conduct Tribunal. “There is nothing under the sun that has not been written about Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, but I can tell you that they have not been substantiated,” he said. He pointed out that even Atiku’s widely reported conflicts with Obasanjo did not lead to prosecution, underscoring that subsequent administrations, including Yar’Adua, Jonathan, Buhari, and now Tinubu, have not pursued legal action against him.

Momodu described Atiku as a disciplined administrator and a committed democrat who does not encourage violence or thuggery. Recalling his time as Atiku’s Director of Strategic Communications from 2022 to 2023, Momodu noted the orderly and inclusive nature of his office. “You will never go to Atiku’s house and find people wailing around, whether they are thugs, militants, or anything. He is such a cosmopolitan gentleman,” he said, adding that this composure and fairness has sometimes been misunderstood.

He concluded by reiterating his challenge to critics, saying that any credible evidence of corruption should be presented to the appropriate legal authorities. “If anybody knows anywhere where Atiku has been indicted for stealing public property or distributing it to friends and cronies, they should please tell us,” Momodu said.