Atiku has a hand in the collapse of Bank PHB, to be probed after US trip- Lai alleges

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, may have scores to settle with Nigerian security operatives when he returns from his trip to the United States.

This followed the disclosure by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, that Atiku has questions to answer over his alleged role in the collapse of Bank PHB.

Mohammed, who stated this when he spoke with State House correspondents on Friday, said government is investigating the PDP presidential candidate’s alleged role in the collapse of the bank.

According to Mohammed, there is “fresh evidence that he benefitted from slush funds that led to the collapse of Bank PHB.”

He said that government is currently in possession of paper trail which shows that Atiku “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 said, adding that another memo on the same date was raised to confirm the amount was raised from a “claimant management account.”

Mohammed further said that government also has evidence of the account mandate, cheque and account statement proving Atiku as the signatory to the account in which the money was lodged.

He said, “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 said.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has constantly maintained that the former vice president cannot travel to the U.S. over alleged corruption.

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Nigerian Government had even earlier issued a statement advising the U.S. not to issue him a visa. It had, however, noted that it was the prerogative of the U.S. government to issue visa to anyone.

On how Atiku’s eventual travel to U.S makes the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari government feel, Mohammed said, “We are not perturbed one bit. He can go ahead and get a U.S. green card. That will not save him from imminent defeat in the forthcoming election.”

He added that “election will be held here not in the U.S.”

Meanwhile, the Information Minister clarified that his claim does not imply Atiku will be arrested on his return.

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