Department of Treasury, placed him and his family members under close
watch over alleged financial fraud.
Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
in 2019 general elections, gave the clarification in a statement issued
by his Media Aide, Paul Ibe, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ibe said his principal’s attention had been drawn to recycled and
regurgitated lies about the person of Abubakar.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku Abubakar is not under any U.S. watch
list, neither has he been charged, or will ever be charged by the US
Justice Department or any other in a foreign jurisdiction.
“It will be recalled that these recycled lies were re-unearthed just
before the Feb. 23, 2019 Presidential election, and to put paid to it,
Abubakar applied for and received a U.S. visa, whereupon he embarked on
a visit to the US on Jan. 17, 2019.
“He stayed at a hotel just miles to the United States Department of
Justice.
“Abubakar in the course of that trip was also received in audience by
officials of the United States Government,” Ibe said.
He said that the news reports were a desperate gambit to recast these
discredited accusations.
“They are meant to divert the attention of Nigerians from the recent
statement by the Secretary of State of the United States, Mr Mike
Pompeo, announcing visa and travel bans for certain unnamed but
notorious individuals.
“Moreover, the timing of this report, less than 24 hours after the Edo
state gubernatorial elections, should give some thought to thinking
people.
“And considering the season that we are in, more of such jaundiced
stories seeking to discredit Abubakar would come.”
Ibe reiterated that Abubakar and every member of his family kept a clean
business portfolio that had nothing to do with government resources and
in conformity with local and foreign laws of respective countries.