IMPI asks CCT to probe Atiku over alleged $500,000 transaction
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Independent Media and Policy Initiative, IMPI has called on the Federal Government to initiate proceedings before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over an alleged $500,000 foreign transaction involving the family of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The call followed IMPI’s review of a 616-page International Chamber of Commerce arbitral award concerning the disputed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
In a policy statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju, the group alleged that $500,000 was transferred on January 30, 2003, from China Castle Investments, an offshore company linked to Sunrise Power promoter, Leno Adesanya, into the United States Citibank account of Jennifer Douglas, who was then Atiku’s wife.
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IMPI said the payment was made about two weeks before Sunrise Power submitted its tender for the Mambilla project.
The group argued that the timing of the transaction warranted investigation, while acknowledging that the ICC tribunal did not issue a bribery conviction against Atiku.
It said the tribunal rejected the explanation that the payment was a domestic foreign-exchange swap, citing what IMPI described as the absence of adequate financial documentation.
According to the group, the tribunal’s findings raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the payment and its proximity to the Mambilla bidding process.
Akinsiju called for the matter to be examined under the relevant provisions of Nigeria’s Code of Conduct laws.
He said, “Under Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, public officers are strictly prohibited from maintaining foreign bank accounts.”
He added that if the former Vice-President was established to have been the ultimate source of the funds or to have maintained an undeclared foreign account while in office, such conduct would raise constitutional and legal questions.
IMPI also argued that the arbitration record revealed concerns about financial dealings and relationships surrounding the early stages of the Mambilla concession.
The group said the proceedings included references to diplomatic cables describing Adesanya as an “Atiku insider” with direct access to the executive branch.
IMPI stressed that Atiku was not a direct signatory to the procurement process but argued that his position as Vice-President gave him substantial influence over economic affairs during the period.
The organisation called on anti-corruption agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the payment and strengthen safeguards for major infrastructure contracts.
It also urged the authorities to ensure that high-value public projects were negotiated through established statutory and ministerial procedures.
IMPI further said that, depending on the outcome of any investigation and prosecution, the relevant authorities should apply sanctions provided for under Nigerian law.
