“U.S Won’t Support An Atiku Presidency”
Abubakar Atiku
The United States will not support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should he emerge Presidential flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and eventually wins the presidential election following an allegation of corruption and money laundry against him, a Department of States source hinted pointblanknews.com.
Atiku is also unlikely to get any audience with President Barack Obama should he emerge as President of Nigeria while President Obama may cancel his proposed visit to Nigeria before the end of his tenure, a Department of State source told Pointblanknews.com.
The move, according to a U.S State Department source is a clear signal that the Obama administration is determined to help Africa fight corruption especially amongst its political class.
Abubakar has been accused of laundering over $40 Million to the United States through his wife, Mrs. Jennifer Jemila Atiku (nee Jennifer Douglas) and receiving $1.7 Million bribe from Siemens AG.
The US President Barack Obama, in his momentous inaugural speech sent a stinging warning to corrupt African leaders, insisting that they won't be tolerated during his term in office.
President Obama has consistently promised to deal with corrupt African politicians as according to him, “ I have assembled a team of prosecutors (to deal exclusively with this)” he said. According to him, the US was also willing to support the development of African judiciaries to deal with corruption.”
However, of the $40 Million identified in the US investigation, $25 Million was reportedly wire-transferred by offshore corporation into more than 30 U.S bank accounts opened by Mrs. Atiku, primarily by Guernsey Trust Company Nigeria Ltd; LetsGo Ltd; and Sima Holding Ltd.
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The report of the U.S senate which indicted Atiku said “ In December 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed criminal and civil pleadings alleging that Siemens AG, a major German company traded on the New York Stock Exchange, violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by making bribery payments to obtain business in multiple countries, including Nigeria. 1032 Siemens pleaded guilty to violating the books and recordkeeping provisions of the FCPA, and agreed to pay combined criminal and civil fines totaling more than $1.6 billion. One of the allegations in the SEC civil complaint against Siemens was that "approximately $2.8 million of the bribe payments was routed through a bank account in Potomac, Maryland, in the name of the wife of a former Nigerian Vice President." 1034 The Subcommittee has obtained wire transfer documentation substantiating this allegation, as explained below. Through her legal counsel, however, Ms. Douglas denies any wrongdoing.”
President Obama had severally condemned African politicians for corruption that has brought down development of the continent. The move, according to the U.S diplomat who would not want his name in print, is aimed at keeping corrupt African leaders away from the United States.
Former Attorney General of Nigeria, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa had his visa and that of his family members revoked by the United States over allegation of corruption.
The U.S decision on Aondoakaa which was based on a 2004 proclamation signed by President George Bush declared that “"The United States has revoked the visa of former Attorney General Michael Aondoakaa under Section 212(f) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 7750, which provides authority to deny entry to persons for corruption.
"Under Presidential Proclamation 7750, "Public Officials or "Former Public Officials whose solicitation or acceptance of any article of monetary value, or other benefit, in exchange for any act or omission in the performance of their public functions, or whose misappropriation of public funds or interference with the judicial, electoral or other public processes has had serious adverse effects on the national interest of the United States."
A U.S State Department source hinted Pointblanknews.com that the Obama's administration frowns at politicians from Africa with charges of corruption and those that have become maximum rulers and would not have anything to do with them.
According to the source, “Mr. President can extend the proclamation to also include those he strongly believes are corrupt and in this case, I think the Nigeria's former Vice President's case is not out of place. I don't see him supporting that, I am sure of that.”
The State Department source insisted that while the united State is still very much open to helping Nigeria in its quest for a sustainable democratic process “I am very sure the issue of who become the next President of Nigeria and his credibility will play a vital role moving forward.”
The source told pointblanknews.com that the United States is monitoring the election process in Nigeria and has mandated its embassy and agencies in Nigeria to give support where necessary.
However, effort to reach Mr. Garba Shehu, spokesman for the Atiku Campaign organization was not fruitful, but a member of the Atiku Campaign Organization who is not authorized to speak on the issue told pointblanknews.com that allegation of money laundry against the former Vice President is politically motivated.
“Why are they bringing up the issue of money laundry now, why are they accusing him of corruption now? He has been to the United States, his wife is from there and they did nothing to him and no one raised the issue then until they saw that his chances are bright to win the Presidency,” the Atiku loyalist told pointblanknews.com.
According to him, “we are not moved and we cannot be intimidated by the U.S or anyone. It is all a witch hunt calculated by the opposition to rubbish the rising profile of Atiku.”