March 30, (THEWILL) – The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), has requested Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, appear before it, to substantiate his petition against former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
The Court also ordered that he produce one Michael Achimugu, an alleged whistle-blower and former aide of Atiku, on whose allegation Keyamo had based the petition to the CCB and called for investigation and prosecution of the former Vice President.
Recall Achimugu had accused Atiku of diverting key government funds into a special purpose vehicle (SPV), in an audio tape he allegedly released to the public.
Sequel to the allegation, Keyamo had written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the CCB, calling for arrest and prosecution of Atiku.
Atiku denied any wrongdoing and said Achimugu was being manipulated to achieve preconceived political objective.
While the EFCC and the ICPC have not acted on the call for Atiku’s arrest and prosecution, the CCB on Thursday, invited Keyamo to appear before it along with Achimugu.
The CCB, in the letter seen by THEWILL, wrote: “Pursuant to the mandate and powers of the Bureau as enshrined in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Paragraph 3(e) to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I am directed to invite you for an interview in respect of the petition written against Atiku.
“This invitation is to enable you adopt the aforementioned petition and to provide any additional information that may be material to this investigation.
“You are requested to come along with one MICHAEL ACHIMUGU, to assist with enquiries regarding the attachments to your petition.
“Upon arrival you are to ask to see the Director, Investigation, Intelligence & Monitoring,” the CCB wrote in a letter signed by Gyvimi S.P, it’s Director of Investigation, Intelligence & Monitoring.”
Keyamo is billed to appear Friday, 21st April, at 1400 hrs prompt, at the CCB Interview Room.
In a short press statement signed by John Ainetor, an Assistant and Head of Chambers, Festus Keyamo Chambers said the CCB “is set to commence investigation of Atiku Abubakar over the diversion of public funds whilst he was Vice-President of Nigeria through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV).
“The Bureau has invited our client, Mr Festus Keyamo, to come forward to adopt his petition and to help it to secure the presence of the whistleblower, Mr Michael Achimugu, to assist in the investigation. See a copy of the letter below.
“Mr Keyamo assures that the crusade for accountability in respect of this issue was not a campaign gimmick, as he promises to follow it through to a logical conclusion, even after the victory of the President-Elect, ASIWAJU Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
