Potomac, Md., Home of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar was raided by the FBI in connection with a Congressional influence-peddling scandal. Federal Prosecutor Mark Lytle said Abubakar was later cleared of wrongdoing.
Abubakar is widely and fondly known by his first name, Atiku.
The affair had threatened to derail Abubakar's campaign for the Nigerian presidency, and his being cleared may have a political edge: Abubakar is one of the best-known presidential candidates, and agitators have been anxious to put some distance between him and the rumored third-term bid of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has denied he is running.
Recently, an interview with Obasanjo's son appeared to suggest that Atiku was an enemy of Obasanjo, but the son later denied ever having granted an interview to the reporter who wrote the story, but admitted talking to him after refusing an interview. The son said the reporter invented most of the conversation.
Nonetheless, the publication of the interview resulted in an apology from Obasanjo, who took pains to distance himself from his son's alleged comments. After the son spoke out, the false report was blamed on Nigerian enemies of Obasanjo who live in Texas.
The United States has fiercely opposed a third term for Obasanjo, and it would not be a stretch to suggest that perhaps Abubakar's good fortune in being cleared came after pressure from the White House, where oil interests are keen to see Obasanjo and his anti-corruption campaign disappear. It would not be the first time political influence resulted in a dropped FBI investigation of influential foreigners. The U.S. Attorney's office in Potomac, Md., cleared Abubakar, federal prosecutor Mark Lytle told the Independent.
Now, with Abubakar cleared, it may be easier for Obasanjo to support the Vice President for the nation's highest office, and put talk about his own third term to rest.
Here is the story from today's Daily Independent:
Raid on U.S. home: FBI clears Atiku
By Chinedu Offor
Correspondent (Washington)
A breather came all the way from the United States to Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) cleared him of any
wrongdoing over an alleged business deal with an American Congressman.
The allegation had led to a raid on his home in Potomac, Maryland, last year.
A central figure in the investigation and an assistant to the Congressman, Brett Pfeffer, has entered a guilty plea at a Louisiana State Court of demanding bribes from several unnamed individuals in exchange for his help in promoting businesses in Africa, especially in Nigeria.
Pfeffer disclosed in documents filed in court on Thursday that he demanded gratification of five to seven per cent from any newly formed African company to sell the deal to African Government officials.
He added that his visit with Congressman William Jefferson to Atiku's residence was to give the impression that he was keeping his part of the pact.
Prosecutor Mark Lytle said another congressional representative and Pfeffer travelled to Ghana in July last year to promote the same sort of deal with the Ghanaian Government.
It gave rise to a similar accusation that President John Kufuor was being investigated by the FBI.
Pfeffer's attorney, Paul Knight, declined to comment when contacted on Thursday.
Court records gave no indication of how much money Jefferson stood to receive but officials said the amount would be disclosed later as part of Pfeffer's sentencing.
Prosecutors have been investigating Jefferson in connection with a telecommunications contract involving a Kentucky-based company that specialises in providing high-speed Internet access over Nigeria's copper telephone wires.
Atiku’s Spokesperson, Garuba Shehu, has reacted to the development, telling a Web-based news agency, Times of Nigeria, that his boss feels vindicated.
“He had always proclaimed his innocence. The whole episode was an attempt by some to exert political gains by damaging the vice president’s reputation. We have been vindicated”, he stressed.
According to him, Atiku had already denied any wrongdoing when his residence was raided.
“We are currently in litigation with Newswatch magazine over the libelous story it published against Atiku.
“The fact is that Jefferson as the co-Chairman of the Sub-committee on Africa for Nigeria and Brazil has a lot of ties with Nigeria and has visited the country several times. He has met both sitting and former Presidents, privately and publicly; not just Atiku.
“This man has been a recurring figure in the affairs of Nigeria for a long time.”
Shehu said there is nothing secret about Atiku’s meeting with Jefferson.
“It was done in the open. His chief of staff was asked to write the minister of communications on the status of the contract with the American company. That was it”.
Daily Independent had reported that Preliminary report on the raid on Atiku’s residence would be released early this year.
Justice Department sources said the report was delayed to "allow the uproar over the raid to settle and to ensure a thorough investigation".
Sources at the Department of Justice had explained that the case generated huge interest because of pressure from the Presidency and Atiku’s loyalists, but for different reasons.
Aso Rock wanted the report to justify further moves against Atiku, including removing him from office if illegal activities were uncovered.
"If the report indicts Atiku, he will no longer have the moral right to remain in office and the Nigerian President will have to remove him from office, just like in South Africa", sources said then.
Supporters of Atiku hoped that the report would exonerate him from all accusations. "The only scenario that can save his job is a clean bill of health from the FBI", the sources added.
The State Department and the Department of Justice have been swamped with petitions from both supporters of Obasanjo and Atiku.
Atiku’s loyalists allege that he was set up by Abuja because of his refusal to support a third term for Obasanjo.
They asked the American authorities to dismiss the allegation against him on the grounds that he was not given any authority to enter into negotiations on behalf of the government.
The sources had confided months ago that the report "has no smoking gun."
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