Atiku has lastly secured his US Visa forward of the 2019 election, and has reportedly left Nigeria for the UK, the place he’ll spend a while earlier than flying to the US.
Cableng reported that former president Olusegun Obasanjo performed a “critical” position in getting the American authorities to subject the visa to his former deputy, with whom he was estranged for nearly 15 years.
Atiku who simply acquired his US Visa has not been to the US in 13 years, and was on the heart of controversy that he could be avoiding potential arrest or prosecution. His political opponents within the 2019 election, had used his absence from the US not simply to taunt however to discredit him.
The PDP Presidential candidate was reportedly enmeshed in an FBI bribery scandal investigation, involving William Jefferson, former US congressman, in 2004. He was allegedly accused of demanding a bribe of $500,000 to facilitate the award of contracts to 2 American telecommunication corporations in Nigeria.
The FBI had searched his residence within the posh neighbourhood of Potomac, Maryland, however no cash was discovered. The investigators had videotaped Jefferson, who was the congressman representing Louisiana, receiving $100,000 value of $100 payments which he claimed was meant for Atiku, however the former vice-president has constantly denied the allegation.
Regardless of Atiku’s declare to innocence, the controversy raged. Nevertheless in a current interview with Dele Momodu, he clarified his absence from the US.