SHEHU SANI SLAMS ATIKU OVER US LOBBYING CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRESIDENT TINUBU

Former lawmaker,  SHEHU SANI has criticised the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ATIKU ABUBAKAR, over the reported engagement of a United States lobbying firm to circulate documents relating to President BOLA TINUBU’S past US forfeiture case, describing the move as unpatriotic.

In a post on his X handle, SANI argued that involving foreign lobby groups to portray the President and his administration negatively before the US government could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and have adverse consequences for ordinary citizens, and further warned that such actions could deepen global distrust of Nigerians as well as expose the country to sanctions or visa restrictions.

His comments followed reports that Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., engaged by ATIKU, had begun distributing documents relating to a long-running United States forfeiture case involving TINUBU, to officials in the DONALD TRUMP administration, members of Congress and congressional staff.

According to the reports, the firm said it was sharing records from the US Department of Justice concerning allegations linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds connected to President TINUBU.

ATIKU reportedly retained the lobbying firm in March under a 12-month contract valued at 1.2 million dollars to undertake advocacy, diplomatic outreach and present his perspectives on issues concerning Nigeria-US relations.