₦airaland Forum

Former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has said President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar both face long-standing corruption allegations that are unlikely to give either side a decisive advantage as political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Akande argued that attempts by supporters of either politician to weaponise past corruption allegations would have limited political impact because both men have been subjected to years of public scrutiny.

According to him, neither camp can convincingly claim the moral high ground on issues relating to corruption.

“When you put Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku up against each other on the questions around corruption, I don’t think it’s going to be helpful to either of them because both of them have sufficient baggages,” Akande said.

He was reacting to renewed efforts by supporters of the former vice president to circulate documents relating to Tinubu’s past legal controversies in the United States, including issues surrounding a decades-old drug-related forfeiture case.

Akande dismissed the move as unlikely to alter public perception, noting that the issues have been extensively debated and litigated over the years.

“So, this attempt by the Atiku camp to try to circulate copies around the Congress about the drug case involving Tinubu is of no moment. Yes, it’s going to cause a lot of controversy here at home but those controversies don’t run deep. The matter has been litigated, re-litigated and interrogated. Can they find something new to talk about?” he asked.

The former presidential spokesman also suggested that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could equally revisit past allegations involving Atiku if the political contest degenerates into an exchange of corruption claims.

Referring to the Halliburton bribery scandal, Akande argued that the case did not present the strongest line of attack against the former vice president.

“In the Halliburton case, the strongest case was even against President Obasanjo. So, I don’t think that is the worst case they can bring out against Atiku,” he said.

Instead, Akande pointed to the corruption investigation involving former United States Congressman William Jefferson, who was convicted on corruption charges after FBI agents discovered $90,000 in cash wrapped in foil inside a freezer at his home.

According to Akande, allegations linking Jefferson to Atiku are likely to feature more prominently if political attacks intensify ahead of the 2027 election.

“It’s the William Jefferson Congressman case who gave Atiku $100,000 that was found in his fridge. And the man said it was Atiku that gave him the money,” he said.

Akande’s comments come amid increasing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with both the ruling APC and opposition figures intensifying efforts to shape public narratives around governance, accountability and leadership.

He suggested that while corruption allegations may continue to dominate political discourse, Nigerian voters are more likely to judge candidates on their records in office, policy direction and their ability to address the country’s economic and security challenges than on controversies that have circulated in the public domain for years.

Akande maintained that unless fresh evidence emerges, revisiting old allegations against either Tinubu or Atiku is unlikely to significantly influence the political landscape ahead of the next general election.

Tenses:
That's why Nigerians chose PO as president.

PO is corrupt baggage free

Ofunaofu:
https://dailytrust.com/2027-both-tinubu-atiku-have-corruption-baggage-akande/

Tenses:
That's why Nigerians chose PO as president.

PO is corrupt baggage free

newsbook:
Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has re-echoed his allegation that his predecessor, Mr Peter Obi demanded the sum of N7.5billion from him for sponsoring his election in 2013.

Obiano and his predecessor, Obi have had a frosty relationship shortly after his swearing in.

Obi has however denied that he demanded for the sum of N7.5billion from Obiano, saying that his problem with him was his (Obiano’s) underperformance.

Obi said if he needed the said sum, he would have simply taken it from the N75billion he left for the Obiano administration at the end of his tenure.

But Governor Obiano while speaking on Wednesday evening at Ezechima Primary School, Onitsha where he inaugurated his reelection campaigns in Onitsha North Council Area, said the clarification became necessary because of the recent accusations against him by the former Governor.

He stated that his predecessor had demanded the sum of N7.5billion from him as funds spent in prosecuting the election on his behalf, but that he refused to pay the money because it was not true.

Obiano said he refused to pay because he strongly believed that public funds should be used for public good, and not to settle godfathers.

These, he said, was the reason they fell apart.

The governor said that another reason he refused to pay the money was because he was aware that enough money was raised for his campaign by his friends and associates, all of which were never accounted for by the former governor.

On the actual sum the former Governor claimed he left behind, Governor Obiano made it clear that he inherited liability of about N127 billion debt from him in contracts awarded and other responsibilities, which he has been religiously undertaking in the spirit of continuity.

He said Obi flagged off several roads even on the day he was leaving office and saddled him with the burden of paying for it, but he assured the people that he has his eyes on the ball and will not allow anything to distract him from fulfilling his promises.

The Chairman of the Governor’s Re-election Campaign Committee, Chief Victor Umeh said APGA as the political spirit of Ndigbo, has in the past three and half years, availed Anambra good governance at its best, reminding the people that the upcoming guber election was not about Willie Obiano but about ensuring that the state remained free from political godfatherism.

A former Central Bank Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo in his speech said that at this time, the State needs a tested hand like Governor Obiano who has the experience and expertise to effectively steer her affairs.

https://dailypost.ng/2017/10/19/peter-obi-demanded-n7-5bn-sponsoring-election%e2%80%8e-obiano-insists/

HIGHESTPOPORI:
Peter Obi left office without any single corruption baggage,and people wonder while the people love him and want him as President

Tenses:
That's why Nigerians chose PO as president.

PO is corrupt baggage free

Ofunaofu:
https://dailytrust.com/2027-both-tinubu-atiku-have-corruption-baggage-akande/

obembet:
All Nigeria politicans including laoli akande are corrupt.

Sowore is only the bette candidate.

Tribalism will not allow some people get sense

Tenses:
That's why Nigerians chose PO as president.

PO is corrupt baggage free

MartinCorridon:
Pandora is not the name of a Greek legend

Nigerians don't want someone who gave alcohol to his people so that they wouldn't be able to use their 5 & ....

Tenses:
That's why Nigerians chose PO as president.

PO is corrupt baggage free

BetterScottish:
The same 5 & .... Wey you nodey use abi wey you go get sef 🤣; funny people everywhere

IbnB:
Okay it's his oga from Lilliput that does not have corruption baggage

I'm sure he's a fake pastor too, pastors wey dey do joint venture business with armed robbers and drug dealers

chisomkachy:
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has withdrawn the alleged money laundering suit it filed at the Federal High Court against Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa.

Naija News understands that the anti-graft did not give any particular reason for its application for withdrawal.

Following the application to withdraw, Justice Nicholas Oweibo discharged the ‘lien/Post No Debit’ placed on Obasa’s three accounts in Standard Chartered Bank.

The accounts are (US Dollars) 0001852063; (Current) 0001852056 and (Saving) 5002309624.

The judge also set aside the ex-parte orders he made on September 15, 2020, which led to the freezing of the accounts.

Recall that the court on September 15, 2020, granted an interim order freezing Obasa’s accounts following the EFCC’s application in a suit marked FHC/LCS/1064/2020.

The agency had said it was investigating the Speaker for the alleged offences of conspiracy, diversion of funds, abuse of office and money laundering.

But Justice Oweibo, on August 16, 2023, heard the application to unfreeze the accounts in his chamber.

During the hearing, the EFCC was represented by Mr. Sulaiman I. Sulaiman, while Obasa was represented by Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN).

The EFCC lawyer told the court that the application to unfreeze the accounts was pursuant to Section 44(2)(K) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 26, 29 and 34 (1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Section 44 of the Constitution concerns constitutional rights to property.

Justice Oweibo held: “It is hereby ordered that an order is hereby granted to the respondent/applicant setting aside the ex-parte orders of this court made on the 15th day of September 2020 upon the ex-parte motion of the Applicant/ Respondent in relation the funds of the Respondent/Applicant domiciled in the accounts stated in the following schedule:

“ACCOUNT NAME, FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INSTITUTIONS, TYPE OF ACCOUNT, 1. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered, (US Dollars) 0001852063 2. Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Current) 0001852056 3. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, Standard Chartered (Saving) 5002309624.

“Issued at Lagos, under the seal of this Honourable Court and by the hands of the Presiding Judge this 16th day of August 2023.”

https://dailytimesng.com/obasa-efcc-withdraws-suit/

Previous Threads:
https://www.nairaland.com/5877642/obasa-64-bank-accounts-linked#89878603

https://wap.nairaland.com/6167844/lagos-assembly-speaker-obasa-efcc#94728150

https://www.nairaland.com/6168612/obasa-court-orders-efcc-freeze#94741534

Tenses:
That's why Nigerians chose PO as president.

PO is corrupt baggage free

Ofunaofu:
https://dailytrust.com/2027-both-tinubu-atiku-have-corruption-baggage-akande/

Tenses:
That's why Nigerians chose PO as president.

PO is corrupt baggage free

assassin007:
That’s the major problem in Nigeria.
Just imagine Atiku spending over $1 Million to lobby and ensure Tinubu drug case files gets to Trump.

The same case file Tinubu has spent all the money Nigeria has saved from removal of Subsidy and more to silence 🤐.

The money this case file has taken from Nigeria would have gone a long way in providing free healthcare for poor Nigerians😔🤕

echoxyz:
No be this man dey work for that short man betrayer.

Tinubu help your boss to become vice president only for him to want the president position, knowing fully well that the same Tinubu, his political benefactor is interested in the same position.

Without Tinubu, nobody will ever hear of osinbajo.

That same corrupt Tinubu, is the same person that made you have a voice politically today cos without Tinubu, your boss wld have remained an RCCG pastor till his last days on earth, that is if Adeboye doesn't force him to resign at old age just like winners church owner did to his most senior pastors.