The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubarkar, has been accused of refusing to pay the sum of $5.9million
An Abuja-based firm, Legacy Logistics (LLC), in a letter issued on Thursday, accused Atiku of reneging on the agreement he entered with them in 2018 over the processing of a United States visa.
The logistics firm revealed that on October 15, 2018, Atiku through his lawyer entered into an agreement with the company to process and procure US Visa, adding that the visa was processed, procured, and handed over to the PDP presidential candidate as agreed, but the agreed sum of about $5.9million has allegedly not been paid.
“We are solicitors to Legacy Logistics LLC Ltd (hereinafter referred to as our client and on its behalf and instructions we write you,” the letter stated.
“Our client briefed us that you instructed your legal representative Prof. Maxwell Gidado, SAN, and your advisor, Dr. Samuel Cornelius to seek the services of our client to process and procure United States of America visa on your behalf.
“Consequent to your instruction, a scope of service agreement was entered into dated 15 October 2018.
“The service our client was to provide based on the agreement as specified in the addendum to the scope of service agreement.
“Our client diligently executed the agreement and you were successfully issued the United States of America visa which same was delivered to you.
“You subsequently used the said visa and traveled to the United States of America whereby your teaming supporters and admirers in Nigeria and the World over applauded you.
“Your Excellency sir, you have intentionally refused and neglected to honor your part of the service agreement despite repeated demands from our client.”
When contacted, Gidado, Atiku’s lawyer, said the allegation is an attempt to extort money from the PDP standard bearer.
“My take on the allegation above is that the authors of the allegation are simply fraudsters and extortionists,” he said.
“There has never been any legally binding contract between Atiku Abubakar and themselves. Neither has there been any of that between me authorized by Atiku Abubakar as claimed by them with themselves.
“So this contraption is nothing but an attempt to extort money from Atiku Abubakar. The legal team of Atiku Abubakar is on top of the matter and they will soon be hearing from them.”
Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesperson, also described the claimants as “extortionists”.
It was reported in December 2018 that Atiku was issued a US visa after being unable to visit the country for 13 years after a reported travel ban due to corruption charges.
His row with the US authorities began after the FBI investigated a bribery scandal involving William Jefferson, former US congressman, in 2004.
Atiku was accused of demanding a bribe of $500,000 to facilitate the award of contracts to two American telecommunication firms in Nigeria
The FBI had searched his residence in the posh neighborhood of Potomac, Maryland, but no money was found.
The investigators had videotaped Jefferson, who was the congressman representing Louisiana, receiving $100,000 worth of $100 bills which he claimed was meant for Atiku, but the former vice-president has consistently denied the allegation.
Despite Atiku’s claim of innocence, the controversy never fully abated.
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