Presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has denied allegation that he is planning to smuggle in looted funds into the country just before the February 2019 elections.

Responding to the allegation by the Buhari Media Oeganisation (BMO), Atiku described it as another infantile outburst that tells more about the accuser than the accused, adding that he has no looted funds abroad or in Nigeria.

He said in a statement by his spokesman, Paul Ibe, he has a record of preventing looted funds from being smuggled into Nigeria.

According to him, in 1984, he, as head of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command of the Nigerian Customs and Excise Department, stopped the ADC of the then Military Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, from smuggling in 53 suitcases of looted money into the country.

“Young Nigerians and millennials who may not be aware of this incident, will do well to Google it. Only the guilty are afraid. It is President Muhammadu Buhari who has a history of smuggling in looted funds and not Waziri Atiku Abubakar.

“In fact, Nasir El-Rufai, a favourite of the President and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, said as follows on October 4, 2010:

“In 1984, Buhari allowed 53 suitcases belonging to his ADC’s father to enter Nigeria unchecked at a time the country was exchanging old currency for new.”

“Atiku Abubakar’s plane was searched, his accounts have been perused and his businesses have been thoroughly investigated with a fine tooth and nothing remotely corrupt or illegal has been found.

“In desperation, the Buhari administration released this statement to cover their shame on a day that the US based International Strategic Studies Association  reported that it is the unprecedented corruption around President Buhari that has led to the recent setbacks in the war on terrorism in the Northeast and the heavy loss of lives amongst the military rank and file. May God save Nigeria from a government that values money over lives.

“We therefore urge Nigerians to note that it is Muhammadu Buhari who has a history and a record of smuggling in looted funds and it is Waziri Atiku Abubakar who has a history of preventing such from happening.

“And while they are at it, we urge them to tell Nigerians those behind Etisalat and Keystone Bank and how they suddenly possessed such wealth overnight.

“Finally, Nigerians should note that the Buhari administration cannot defend their record on jobs and poverty – the things of most concern to voters – thus, their only resort is slander.”

A group, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has alerted the Central Bank of Nigeria and relevant security agencies including the Customs and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to beware of grand plot by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar to bring illicit funds into the country ahead of the 2019 elections.

The group, which in a statement today, Sunday, asked the relevant authorities to be on the lookout for cross border movement of large sums of dollars into the country, said that the PDP’s candidate is desperate to go into the 2019 election with intent to buy votes and damn the consequences.

The statement signed by the of the Chairman of the group, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, said: “we have it on good authority that the PDP and its Presidential candidate are making strenuous efforts to bring in public funds stashed abroad including those from recent sales of assets in Angola which were acquired with illicit funds.

“We also know that the former Vice President has made promissory transaction commitments on a number of strategic national assets including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and a percentage holding in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to a foreign syndicate.

“All these are out of desperation and as a result of his inability to raise funds from governors elected on PDP platform, many of whom are themselves locked in stiff battles for their seats.”

The group explained that the move by the PDP Presidential candidate follows stringent measures put in place by the CBN and EFCC to ensure sanity in the banking sector.

“It is clear to Atiku Abubakar and PDP elements that the President Muhammadu  Buhari Administration has put in place a system that has made it difficult for the type of situation in 2015 where former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke could warehouse $115,000,000 (One hundred and fifteen million dollars) which was then shared among party officials to influence electoral officials.

“They also know that even the EFCC is very much on the alert at local airports as seen in the manner its operatives have twice in recent times intercepted undeclared sums of money running into millions of dollars.

“So these opposition elements are now working out a more crooked way of bringing in money through the borders in order to circumvent the system before and during the February 2019 elections”.

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, has warned Jerry Gana and his Presidential Campaign Committee not to carry out ant activity now to avoid contempt of court.

In a statement in Abuja, Falae said: “we cannot and should not attend any of the events being scheduled by Prof. Jerry Gana and his Campaign Committee as it will amount to a breach of the court process and may amount to contempt of Court.

Falae said that he had received a letter dated December 27 from Gana seeking his leave as SDP national chairman to ”unveil the vision and Programme” of his Presidential Campaign.

He said that Gana in the letter, was also inviting him as “Chief Host” at both the “unveiling” programme scheduled for Saturday Dec. 29, and at the “Summit of Stakeholders planned for Saturday January 5, 2019.

He recalled that earlier correspondence from Gana made it clear that he based the proposals on the judgment of the FCT High Court dated Dec. 14, 2018.

Falae said that the counsel of all the five defendants in the case (including SDP), Wole Olanipekun & Co, had already appealed to the Court of Appeal against that judgement.

“We have also, through our Counsel, filed a motion at the Court of Appeal, praying for certain reliefs including Stay of execution of the judgment of the High Court and injunctive reliefs against Prof. Jerry Gana, pending the determination of the Appeal.

“All the relevant processes have been served on Prof. Jerry Gana’s Counsel.

“I appeal to all Party officials at all levels, leaders and members to stay calm and refrain from participating in actions designed to pre-empt the courts. We must remain loyal to the Party which is more important than any of us.

“We are all one party and we are all united.’’

Recall that the SDP had earlier declared former Governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, as its presidential flag bearer for the 2019 General Elections.

The party declared Duke as winner of its primary election, stating that he polled 812 votes while Gana got 611.

Gana, however, went to court seeking that it should declare him the winner in line with the zoning and rotation formula of the party’s constitution.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has sympathized with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the death of some of its members in a fatal accident on Otukpo-Agatu road in Benue State as they were travelling for the campaign flag-off of a senatorial candidate yesterday, Friday.

National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement today, Saturday, said the party is anguished and deeply saddened by the tragic accident.

“While we share the pains of the bereaved families, we also pray that those injured in the accident make a speedy and full recovery.

“As we mourn, the Party prays that the Almighty God give the bereaved families and other loved ones the strength to withstand the tragic loss and also grant the dead eternal rest.

“Political activities have expectedly heightened in the leadup to the 2019 General Elections. The APC urges all to ensure safety as we go about our respective campaign activities.

“We also call on relevant agencies charged with keeping transport routes and campaign grounds safe to ensure that the electioneering campaigns are as humanly possible devoid of avoidable accidents and incidents.”