Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over an unauthorised payment into one of his private bank accounts, describing the incident as a potential breach of financial privacy.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the transfer, labelled “Contribution Electioneering Campaign,” was neither requested nor authorised by him or his campaign.
According to the statement, the account involved is a private account whose details are not publicly available, raising questions about how an unknown individual obtained the banking information.
“The transfer originated from a person totally unknown to His Excellency. Neither His Excellency nor his campaign solicited, authorised or has any knowledge of the individual or entity behind the unauthorised payment,” the statement said.
Atiku expressed concern that the incident could point to a broader compromise of Nigerians’ financial data, warning that if the banking details of a former vice president and presidential candidate could be accessed without authorisation, the privacy of ordinary citizens could also be at risk.
He further stated that if investigations reveal the account details were obtained through individuals with privileged access, it would constitute a serious abuse of power capable of exposing account holders to security risks, including kidnapping, fraud and other criminal activities.
The former vice president described the incident as one of several “suspicious activities” occurring ahead of the 2027 general elections but maintained that it would not distract him from his political ambitions.
“As political activities gather momentum, Nigerians should not be distracted by these tired tactics that smack of character assassination,” the statement said.
Atiku reaffirmed his commitment to contesting the 2027 presidential election, saying he remained focused on offering what he described as credible leadership and practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
