The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has invited Festus Keyamo, the minister of State for Labour and Employment, to launch an investigation into his petition against former vice president Atiku Abubakar. Keyamo had accused Atiku of using a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to divert funds between 1999 and 2007.
Keyamo submitted the petition against Atiku during the build-up to the presidential poll. The Festus Keyamo chamber filed the case at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with CCB, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants respectively, while Atiku is the first defendant.
In the lawsuit, Keyamo requested a declaration from the court that Atiku is legally required to provide information about a bank account belonging to a company named Marine Float and other accounts of two undisclosed companies. Keyamo claims that Atiku revealed this information to his close aide, Michael Achimugu, regarding how the accounts were used to secretly divert and misappropriate public funds between 1999 and 2007 while Atiku was serving as vice president of Nigeria.
The assistant head of Chambers in Keyamo’s law firm in Lagos, John Ainetor, released a statement saying that the Bureau has invited Keyamo to adopt his petition and help secure the presence of Achimugu to assist in the investigation. Keyamo has assured that he is committed to the crusade for accountability and promises to follow through with the investigation even after the victory of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu.
The SPV saga has raised concerns about corruption in Nigeria and the need for accountability. The CCB’s invitation of Keyamo suggests that the government is taking the matter seriously and is committed to investigating allegations of corruption, no matter who is involved. Atiku has not yet commented on the matter, but it is likely that the investigation will have significant implications for his reputation and political career.