A legal firm, Sagitarian Law Firm, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reopen and prosecute a financial crimes case involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, citing allegations contained in an EFCC report released in 2006.
The firm, acting on behalf of Hon. Ehiozuwa J. Agbonayinma, a former member of the House of Representatives and former member of the Code of Conduct Bureau, made the demand in a letter dated August 27, 2026, which was received at the office of the EFCC Chairman on September 1.
The petition was signed by the firm’s Principal Counsel, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo.
In the letter addressed to the EFCC chairman, the law firm urged the commission to revisit what it described as serious allegations of corrupt practices, money laundering and other financial crimes allegedly involving Atiku.
EFCC’s 2006 Report on Atiku
The lawyers recalled that between 2005 and 2006, the EFCC investigated allegations of grand corruption involving Atiku, who was then serving as vice-president.
According to the firm, the commission subsequently released a report in September 2006 titled **“The EFCC Report on Vice-President Abubakar Atiku (Full Report).”**
The lawyers said the report contained what they described as serious allegations relating to corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes.
They argued that despite the seriousness of the allegations and what they described as an earlier commitment by the EFCC to prosecute Atiku after he left office, no prosecution had taken place.
Lawyers Demand Prosecution
The firm argued that although Atiku enjoyed constitutional immunity while serving as vice-president, such immunity should no longer prevent prosecution after leaving office.
The lawyers described the continued non-prosecution of the case as a **“deliberate dereliction of duty”**, alleging that the situation amounted to a violation of the law establishing the anti-graft agency.
They further claimed that the matter had become a reference point in perceptions that the EFCC was unwilling to pursue corruption cases involving politically influential individuals.
US Senate Investigation Cited
The petition also referenced an investigation reportedly conducted by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Homeland Security and Government Affairs.
According to the lawyers, the US investigation examined the same matter and produced a report dated February 4, 2010.
Sagitarian Law Firm urged the EFCC to reactivate its 2006 report and consider the cited US Senate report as part of the basis for immediate prosecution of the former vice-president.
“Prosecution of this case will represent one of the greatest milestone achievements of your anti-corruption body,” the firm stated in the petition.
EFCC Given 14 Days to Act
The lawyers gave the EFCC 14 days to act on the petition, warning that failure or refusal by the commission to take action would prompt their client to commence legal proceedings against the agency.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had yet to respond to messages seeking its reaction.
Source: NAN
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