Bank PHB fund: FG set to interrogate Atiku over corruption allegation

The Federal Government is preparing grounds to interrogate the
presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku
Abubakar, over alleged corruption, SUNDAY PUNCH reports.

However, top government sources said no decision had been taken
on the security or anti-graft agency that would handle the
matter.

It was gathered that the government had yet to make up its mind
on whether the file be sent to the Department of State Services,
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission or the police.

A source close to the planned interrogation said the Federal
Government was not bothered about political interpretation being
read into the issue.

The source said, “The alleged crime was discovered by the
government and though it could have happened earlier, there is no
time limit to when a crime should he investigated.

“The government has the right to determine when a case is ripe
for either investigation or even prosecution. That is the
truth.

“In the coming week, a decisive action will be taken on the
matter. Anybody can say whatever they like, but government is not
bothered because we know we have a genuine case against the former
vice president.”

Atiku’s interrogation is sequel to allegation made by the
Federal Government on Friday that it was in possession of alleged
fresh N156m evidence linking the former vice president to the
collapse of Bank PHB.

To this end, it stated that Atiku had questions to answer in
connection with the alleged ‘slush funds’, which he took from the
bank through Claremont Management Services Account on January 13,
2009.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made the
allegation in Abuja while speaking with State House correspondents
on Friday.

He also claimed that the government was not disturbed that the
former vice president got a United States’ visa and actually
travelled to the US on Thursday.

Rather, he said the presidential candidate must clear his name
of corruption allegations, especially his alleged role in the
collapse of Bank PHB.

But Atiku said in Abuja on Saturday, that the Federal Government
was shocked about his trip to US.

He, nevertheless, said he was ready to make himself available
for interrogation, saying he remained a law-abiding citizen.

Atiku, who spoke though his media aide, Mr Phrank Shaibu, said
he had nothing to hide.

The ex-vice president added, “Nigerians are aware of the timing
of this fresh allegation by the APC-led Federal Government. It is
their shameless reaction to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s visit to the
US.

“So, we don’t need the services of a clairvoyant to know that
the allegation of corruption is nothing but a manifestation of
solid and un-adulterated angst.

“It is simply an exhibition of a blind rage by a set of deprived
suckling with a long-term pattern of abnormal behaviour that is
characterised by incredible skills at lying.

“Atiku, as a law-abiding citizen, will, as always, subject
himself to scrutiny because he has no skeletons in his cupboard but
the case under review (if any) is an issue for our lawyers to
determine as we are too busy with electioneering, a process to get
Nigeria working again.”