Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition has come under renewed public scrutiny following the resurfacing of allegations surrounding the alleged diversion of $145 million in public funds to private companies linked to him.
The issue, which has circulated in public discourse for years, gained fresh attention this week as political commentators, activists, and social media users revived discussions around the handling of public resources and accountability in government-linked transactions.

Hon. Ifeanyi Uzokwe Accuses Atiku
Recall that Nigerian senators in 2007 accused Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who ran for president in 2027, of diverting $145 million of public funds towards private companies, a Senate report showed.

The report backs up some of the accusations made against Abubakar by the anti-corruption squad, which was used by President Olusegun Obasanjo to try to disqualify his estranged deputy from the race to succeed himthen.

A spokesman for the Action Congress, Abubakar’s then party, denied the accusation and said no money was missing from the accounts of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), which used to be under the vice president’s supervision

Obasanjo and Abubakar had accused each other of using the PTDF as a slush fund in a vitriolic row that has raged since September and spawned a raft of lawsuits.

In political circles, the issue is already shaping narratives around integrity and electability ahead of future elections.

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