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EXPOSED: Atiku Paid Experts N64.8m For US Trip, To Boost His Presidential Bid [DOCUMENTS ATTACHED]

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2019 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has been found to have paid foreign experts up to $180,000, an equivalent of N64.8 million, to facilitate his January visit to the United States and get him recognized as president by the Government of the United States of America, documents obtained by the ICIR have shown.

To achieve the twin plan, different contracts were filed with the US Department of Justice in February and April this year by Abubakar, the PDP and those enlisted for the jobs.

Such documents are considered public records and their filing is required by the US Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.

In one of the agreements with registration number 6637, Abubakar agreed to pay John Barnett $150,000 to facilitate a trip to Washington DC, the US capital.

Barnett, in a letter dated November 29, 2018, and written to Abubakar to accept his offer, agreed to facilitate his trip “for an event to be hosted on your behalf by the Atlantic Council on December 20, 2018, between 2-3pm.

“I, in conjunction with Bob Horn of the law firm Husch Blackwell will facilitate meetings with the Atlantic Council, US Aid, the US Chamber of Commerce and others based oh their availability during your visit to Washington, DC.”

Blackwell is a litigation and business law firm in the US with expertise in international trade, government contracts, information governance, public policy and government affairs.

“The primary purpose of setting up these meetings was to obtain a visa for Mr. Abubakar to come to the United States,” revealed another part in the registration statement’s second exhibit.

It added: “We attempted to set up a meeting with the Atlantic Council for Mr. Abubakar, but that meeting ultimately never occurred. No outreach was done with respect to USAID or the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”

In attempting to obtain a visa for Abubakar, according to the document, the help of the Political Counsellor at the US Embassy to Nigeria, Anton Smith, was sought multiple times.

It also revealed that the aim of the contract itself is the “election of Atiku Abubakar to the Presidency of Nigeria”.

Twelve years since his last visit, Abubakar finally travelled to the US in January.

During the trip, he lodged at the Trump International Hotel, had a meeting with Nigerians, met with Congressman Chris Smith, and spoke at the US Chamber of Commerce.

The contents of the documents obtained contradicts the statement of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who said Abubakar “was invited to attend functions”.

Abubakar himself said his trip to the US was not lobbied for but an invitation.

Another $30,000 to get US recognition as president

Atiku’s battle for recognition as Nigeria’s duly elected president in the last general elections is not restricted to the local judicial system. He and the PDP are also spending to influence the US government to grant him this recognition.

In a second document obtained by The ICIR with registration number 6654, it was disclosed that he hired Fein & Delvalle PLLC, a Washington DC-based law firm, for the “provision of legal, consultancy and public advocacy services to encourage Congress and the Executive to forebear from a final declaration and recognition of a winner of the 2019 election” until outstanding legal challenges to the declared results have been resolved without influence or manipulation.

This was for a lump sum of $30,000, to cover office space rental, domestic travel, among other expenses, and will last for a total of 90 days.

The United States government has, however, already congratulated Muhammadu Buhari “on his re-election” shortly after the election. A week after its conduct, a statement released by Michael Pompeo, US Secretary of State, described the exercise as “a successful presidential election” and noted “the assessments of international and domestic observer missions affirming the overall credibility of the election”.

Fein & Delvalle is to consult with Congress members towards passing House and Senate resolutions to restrain from a final recognition of a winner pending a fair determination of the legal issues, draft articles and op-eds “to spotlight the issues in Nigeria post-2019 presidential election and to promote the rule of law and due process in resolving electoral disputes in Nigeria”, and finally “make television and other media appearances to engage in public advocacy discussions of these issues”.

“Fein & Delvalle PLLC will establish and operate a Situation Room located in their Capitol Hill offices at 300 New Jersey Ave., NW, Suite 900, Washington, D.C,” read a letter addressed to Atiku Abubakar by the firm and attached to the form.

“A Nigerian Barrister and trusted confidant of Your-Excellency, Dr. Lloyd Ukwu, will assist in the operations of the U.S. Situation Room, which will be a focal point for information forwarded by your Nigeria-based Command Center Situation Room and otherwise obtained to execute strategies to secure
international/and United States endorsement of your efforts to defeat the flagrant violence and illegalities orchestrated by the APC and President Buhari to corrupt and compromise the February 23, 2019, presidential election in subversion of the will of the Nigerian People.”

The firm also agreed to convince the United States that an Atiku presidency would “open a fresh arid new chapter in Nigerian politics in order to accommodate its pluralism and ethnic, religious, and tribal diversity while fostering liberty equality, freedom, and due process”.

The first $1 million deal

As far as the 2019 general elections go, the latest revelations bring the number of deals struck with US lawyers and lobbyists by Atiku Abubakar to a minimum of three.

In September, the PDP, on behalf of its presidential candidate, also signed a one-year contract with Ballard, President of Ballard Partners, a popular lobbying firm based in the US ostensibly to lobby the American government in advancing its interests.

The agreement’s recitals stated that “it shall be the Firm’s duty to consult with the Client and advocate on its behalf those issues the Client deems necessary and appropriate before the US federal government.”

It added: “Issues and objectives may include, but not be limited to, enhancement of US-Nigerian relations, strengthening and advancing democratic values and the rule of law in Nigeria, with a special focus in the coming months on maintaining political and security conditions free of intimidation and interference in order to ensure the success and fairness of Nigeria’s national election for president in 2019.”

It is believed that what could have been a long-term travel ban affecting Atiku was waived by the US government as a result of services rendered by the lobbying firm.

Click HERE to view all attached documents

Credit: ICIR

BIG STORY

Court Jails Gospel Singer Moses Otitoju, Eight Others For Cybercrime

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The Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced Moses Otitoju, a self-proclaimed gospel singer, and eight others to prison for crimes linked to cybercrime, conspiracy, and misuse of funds.

Otitoju was sentenced along with Ayodele Joseph, Adeoye Joseph, and Abubakar Abdulmalik, all charged with similar offences by the anti-corruption agency.

The charges were filed by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to a statement issued Friday by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, the 31-year-old gospel singer from Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State was sentenced to six months in prison by Justice Abimbola Awogboro without the option to pay a fine.

Otitoju was convicted for keeping over N8.4 million in his bank account, which was traced to illegal activities.

One of the charges read, “That you, Otitoju Moses Sesan, sometime between October 2024 and December 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did retain control of the gross sum of N8,404,339 in your account, being proceeds of criminal conduct, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.”

Ayodele, who had N243,750 in his account, received an eight-month jail sentence without an option of fine.

His Tecno 19 phone was confiscated by order of the court and handed over to the Federal Government.

Adeoye, a native of Okene LGA in Kogi State, was also sentenced to eight months without the option of a fine.

He forfeited $220, an iPhone 13, and a Tecno Pop 9 phone to the Federal Government.

Abubakar was handed a six-month prison term. His iPhone 16 and Samsung S10 were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.

EFCC prosecutors Aliyu Adebayo, Sesan Ola, Rashidat Alao, and Mustapha Kaigama led the cases, presenting statements, exhibits, and recovered funds as evidence, all of which were admitted in court.

In another case, Justices Haleema Saleeman and Sulaiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court found Emeka Achi, Isaac Oluwafemi, Afolabi Olatoye, Zubeiru Zubeiru Junior, and Abdulkadir Taofeek guilty of cybercrime and diversion of funds.

Justice Akanbi sentenced Abdulkadir to three years in prison with an option to pay a N500,000 fine, and ordered that N800,000, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and a Samsung phone be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Saleeman sentenced Emeka, Isaac, and Afolabi to six months in jail each, with the option to pay N100,000 as a fine.

In addition, Emeka was ordered to repay N3.35 million within three months and report to the EFCC every two weeks alongside his parents until full payment is made.

Tunde Oyekola

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BIG STORY

Kogi University Lecturer Dies During Sex Romp In Hotel Room With 200-Level Student

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A senior lecturer at Kogi State University, Anyigba, named Dr. Olabode Abimbola Ibikunle, reportedly died in a hotel room following a sexual encounter with a 22-year-old student in her second year.

It was reported that the event happened on Tuesday, July 15, and the police at Anyigba were alerted shortly after. The student involved was taken into custody for questioning.

The lecturer, known across the university for his strict approach, was allegedly infamous for taking advantage of female students in return for academic favours.

Sources claim Dr. Ibikunle, who was married with children, had booked a room in a hotel alongside the student, who is studying Social Studies Education.

According to those familiar with the situation, the lecturer consumed several energy drinks prior to the incident, presumably in anticipation of vigorous activity.

Unfortunately, the lecturer collapsed and passed away during the act.

The Kogi State Police Command verified the incident to SaharaReporters on Friday, labeling it as unfortunate.

In a statement to SaharaReporters, the Command’s spokesperson, SP William Ovye Aya, stated that the student had been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for deeper inquiry and potential charges.

Aya explained: “The report was received on July 16, but the unfortunate incident happened on July 15, 2025. It was the manager of the hotel (name not disclosed), who came to the police station at Anyigba and reported about his guest, the lecturer who had lodged in their facility with a 22-year-old 200-level student, 22 years old, named Gloria Samuel.

“According to the manager, the girl on that fateful day rushed to the reception and complained that the lecturer took her to the hotel, and after they had sex, the man slumped.

“So the manager rushed and informed the DPO, and the DPO rushed to the scene, and they moved the man to the hospital. On arrival, a doctor on duty confirmed the lecturer’s death.

“So the girl in question has been transferred from Anyigba Police Division to the State CID for further investigation and prosecution. An autopsy has been conducted, but right now I don’t know whether the result of the autopsy is out because I haven’t spoken with the SCID.”

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BIG STORY

FULL LIST: Tinubu Appoints IBB’s Son, Muhammad Babangida Chairman Bank Of Agriculture, Others As Heads Of Govt Agencies

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Muhammad Babangida, the son of the former military President, as chairman of the revamped Bank of Agriculture.

President Tinubu approved the appointment today, along with seven others. Some of them will serve as chairmen or directors-general of Federal agencies.

Muhammad Babangida, 53, is an alumnus of the European University in Montreux, Switzerland, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Relations and Business Communication. He later attended Harvard Business School’s Executive Program on Corporate Governance in 2002.

Others appointed by the President are:

Lydia Kalat Musa (Kaduna State) Chairman, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA).

Jamilu Wada Aliyu (Kano State) Chairman, National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).

The Hon. Yahuza Ado Inuwa (Kano State) is the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) chairman.

Sanusi Musa (SAN, Kano State) is the Chairman of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution(IPCR).

Prof. Al-Mustapha Alhaji Aliyu (Sokoto State) is the Director-General of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA).

Sanusi Garba Rikiji (Zamfara State) is the Director-General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN).

Mrs Tomi Somefun (Oyo State) is the Managing Director of the National Hydro-Electric Power Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC).

Dr Abdulmumini Mohammed Aminu-Zaria (Kaduna State) has been appointed Executive Director of the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC).

 

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

July 18, 2025

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