Former Senator Dino Melaye has rejected calls for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to reopen alleged financial crime investigations involving former Vice-President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar.

Melaye’s reaction followed a petition by former House of Representatives member, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, asking the EFCC to revisit allegations involving Atiku during his tenure as Vice-President between 2005 and 2006.

Agbonayinma, through his lawyer, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, SAN, of Sagitarian Law Firm, gave the commission 14 days to act on the petition, warning that legal action could follow if the EFCC failed to respond.

The petition referenced an EFCC investigation and report on allegations against Atiku, as well as a 2010 report by a United States Senate subcommittee, which the petitioner said warranted further investigation.

But Melaye, in a video posted on his official X account, described the move as an attempt to revive an old matter.

“It is very shameful that an unstable character like E.J. will be writing a petition to the EFCC against Atiku Abubakar to resurrect the dead,” he said.

“A petition that was thrown out over 10 years ago is what he is trying to resurrect. What is the integrity of the commercial petitioner?”

Melaye also questioned Agbonayinma’s political movements, alleging that he had moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ADC, then the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), before returning to the APC.

“He left APC in an elaborate press conference in Edo. Within one month, he left APC, went to ADC and then NDC, and now back to APC,” he said.

“Is that a stable character? Is that a man who can pen a petition? Of course, he is myopic and disorganised.”

Melaye had earlier warned the Federal Government and the EFCC against inviting, arresting or interrogating Atiku over the petition, saying the former Vice-President had been investigated by government authorities in the past.

Atiku, in a separate reaction, said he had never been convicted over the allegations and challenged anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to present it to the appropriate authorities.