Politics

Obasanjo lobbying US to lift Atiku’s travel ban – APC

Published

6 years ago

October 12, 2018

The All Progressives Congress has said it has received credible reports that ex -President Olusegun Obasanjo has made moves to get the United States of America to lift an alleged travel ban on former Vice – President Atiku Abubakar.
Acting National Publicity Secretary of the APC , Yekini Nabena said this in a statement, in Abuja, on Friday.

According to him , the ex – President has made moves to secure United States entry visa for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party , Atiku , whose candidacy he endorsed on Thursday .

The APC said it learnt that Obasanjo who during and after leaving office as president insisted on Atiku ’ s unsuitability to govern Nigeria based on his knowledge of the latter ’ s extensive corrupt practices while he served as Vice President , is lobbying US authorities to withdraw the ban reportedly placed on Atiku from entering the US .

Nabena alleged that the ban was placed on the former Vice President following a 2005 $ 500 , 000 bribery scandal that involved Atiku , his fourth wife , Jennifer and former United States Congressman , William Jefferson .

He said , “ Recall that the former president while in office had deployed enormous resources of the country on a global dragnet coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in getting Atiku prosecuted for corrupt enrichment and money laundering .

“ A report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations , chaired by Senator Carl Levin reported that Atiku used offshore companies to syphon millions of dollars to his fourth wife in the United States , Jennifer while still the vice president of Nigeria between 2000 and 2008 .

“ The report further stated that then President Bush had on the strength of his report , barred Atiku and other corrupt politically- exposed persons from being issued visa to the United States , a reason for which he has been unable to travel to the United States till date .

The APC spokesperson also said , “ Former President Olusegun Obasanjo ’ s intervention in Alh . Abubakar Atiku ’ s ban from the United States of America is evidence of Obasanjo ’ s legendary hypocrisy and self -serving interest in national affairs.