Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Presidency to explain the circumstances surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s forfeiture of $460,000 in the United States instead of questioning his decision to hire a Washington-based lobbying firm.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, said the Presidency was attempting to divert attention from the issues raised by records of a US federal investigation involving Tinubu.
His position was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in response to comments by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare.
Dare had criticised Atiku’s engagement of Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., warning against claims that the firm’s managing partner had access to US President Donald Trump or could influence proceedings before American courts.
But Atiku said his relationship with the lobbying firm was transparent, stressing that the $1.2 million agreement was registered with the US Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
He argued that rather than questioning the identity or background of the lobbyist, the Presidency should address the substance of the information being presented to US officials.
Atiku said the key issue was Tinubu’s alleged involvement in a US federal narcotics and money-laundering investigation and the subsequent forfeiture of $460,000 in 1993.
Tinubu surrendered the money to the US government following a Chicago court proceeding in which US authorities linked the funds to proceeds from heroin trafficking.
Atiku maintained that the Presidency had not adequately addressed the circumstances surrounding the forfeiture.
“President Tinubu, before counting Atiku’s $1.2 million, account for your own $9 million arrangement. And before attacking the messenger, answer the $460,000 question,” he said.
The ADC candidate also accused the administration of double standards over its criticism of his lobbying expenses.
According to him, the Federal Government had entered into a $750,000-a-month arrangement with DCI Group, which amounted to $4.5 million for six months and contained provisions that could take the total value to $9 million.
“If Atiku’s $1.2 million is evidence of desperation, what exactly should Nigerians call your own arrangement capable of reaching $9 million?” he asked.
Atiku hired Von Batten-Montague-York in March to protect and strengthen his “reputational standing” in the United States.
Documents filed with the US Department of Justice indicated that part of the firm’s mandate was to “counterbalance” the Nigerian government’s lobbying narratives in the country.
The firm disclosed in July that it had started sharing Department of Justice records relating to allegations against Tinubu with members of the Trump administration, Congress and senior congressional staff.
It said some officials in the US government were previously unaware of the records and that it intended to bring the relevant court filings, affidavit and federal court decisions to their attention.
The dispute comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election intensify, with both the Presidency and opposition figures increasingly engaging in battles over their respective international lobbying and advocacy efforts.
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