- Atiku criticised the Presidency’s use of China’s legal system to defend Tinubu
- He said the comparison revived scrutiny of the President’s past.
- He urged the government to focus on Nigeria’s challenges instead of political exchanges
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Presidency for referencing China’s legal system while defending President Bola Tinubu, saying the comparison only revived public attention on allegations linked to the President’s past.
In a statement issued on Saturday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Eko Hot Blog gathered that Atiku described the Presidency’s remarks as a political miscalculation.
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He argued that China’s strict laws on drug-related offences made the comparison unfavourable to Tinubu rather than to the opposition.
The latest exchange followed an earlier response by the Presidency to reports that Atiku’s lobbying team in the United States had submitted petitions to President Donald Trump and the U.S. State Department concerning Tinubu’s 1993 civil forfeiture case and other issues.
According to Atiku, instead of addressing the concerns raised, the Presidency resorted to personal attacks
He maintained that he had never been convicted or found guilty of corruption, drug-related offences or any other criminal offence in Nigeria or abroad, insisting that his record remained clear
Atiku also argued that if the government wished to use China’s legal standards as a measure of accountability, Nigerians were equally entitled to examine how Chinese authorities might have handled the U.S. civil forfeiture case involving $460,000 allegedly linked to narcotics trafficking and money laundering
He said China is known for its tough stance on narcotics offences and public accountability, adding that such matters would likely attract extensive scrutiny under its legal system.
The former vice president further accused the Tinubu administration of falling short of accountability, claiming that allegations involving budget irregularities, abuse of office and other controversies would have been treated differently under China’s governance system.
He also dismissed suggestions that recent diplomatic correspondence between the United States and Nigeria amounted to legal clearance for Tinubu, arguing that such exchanges should not be interpreted as judicial decisions or declarations of innocence.
Atiku urged the Federal Government to focus on addressing pressing national challenges, including economic hardship, insecurity and rising hunger, rather than engaging in political disputes.
The disagreement comes amid an ongoing war of words between the Presidency and the opposition over Tinubu’s past legal issues in the United States.
The latest controversy was triggered after presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Atiku would have faced imprisonment if he were subject to China’s legal system, citing allegations relating to his record in public office.
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