The presidential flag bearer of the PDP at the 2019 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has described the reports that he is under US surveillance as revisited lies. The former vice president also denied being charged for money laundering as mischievously channeled against his person
He further clarified that none of his family members is being placed under watch over crime in the US or any other foreign country over breach of law.
The former presidential candidate made this known in a statement on Tuesday, September 22, through his media aide Paul Ibeh. Describing the reports that Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), an agency of the US Department of Treasury, had reportedly placed him and his family members under close watch as recycled and regurgitated lies.
He also denied being charged for any crime in the US or any other foreign nation over alleged money laundering. The former vice president further disclosed that fresh lies against him are meant to “divert the attention of Nigerians from the recent statement by the Secretary of State of the United States, Mike Pompeo, announcing visa and travel bans for certain unnamed but notorious individuals.” He noted that he would not have been granted visa to visit America where he was received by the US government officials in the build-up to the 2019 general election if he had erred or involved in money laundering as being mischievously circulated.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku Abubakar is not under any US watch list, neither has he been charged or will ever be charged by the United States Justice Department or any other in a foreign jurisdiction. It will be recalled that these recycled lies were re-unearthed just before the February 23, 2019, presidential election, and to put paid to them, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, applied for and received a US visa, whereupon he embarked on a visit to the United States on January 17, 2019. He stayed at a hotel just miles to the United States Department of Justice.”
Meanwhile, it has been reported that INEC officials and top members of PDP and APC were exposed to be on the list of those US placed a visa ban on over alleged electoral malpractices. The list, as gathered, also contained academicians, serving governors and lawmakers as well as some security officers.
