TheCable

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of failing to take investigate the allegations on the ownership of Keystone Bank and 9Mobile (formerly Etisalat).

The PDP had alleged that allies of President Muhammadu Buhari and his family members bought substantial shares in the companies.

In a statement by Phrank Shaibu, his special assistant on public communications, Atiku said he is not surprised that the EFCC failed to take action, urging the national assembly to save the nation.

“It is not surprising that the EFCC has suddenly become prostrate and bluntly refused to investigate the acquisition of Keystone Bank and 9Mobile which have been widely adjudged to be fraudulent, if not out rightly criminal,” he said.

“The EFCC, like many other agencies under the administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government has once again displayed partisanship… The only hope at this stage is the National Assembly which we urge should take up the gauntlet.

“The National Assembly as representatives of the people is the last hope. We cannot allow the looting and criminal acquisition of our collective patrimony. They plan to steal more if President Buhari wins a second term. The National Assembly and Nigerians must not allow them take away legacies we ought to bequeath to generations unborn. We must rally against nepotistic rule and entrenchment of parochial cleavages as we have witnessed under the APC.”

He accused the presidency of “failing to come out clean” on what it knows about the transaction and simply asking for proof before it could act.

Atiku said such demand has exposed the culpability of the president’s men.

“While we hold on to the piece of evidence that we have, it is no longer in doubt that underhand dealings took place in the acquisition of Keystone Bank and 9Mobile. The roles played by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), both agencies of government have been widely reported and not controverted. The days of playing the ostrich by the Presidency are over. No more hiding for them”, he added.