African Democratic Congress, (ADC) Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has challenged the federal government and its supporters to investigate and prosecute him if they have evidence of wrongdoing, accusing them of reviving old allegations to divert attention from questions over the use of revenue generated after the removal of petrol subsidies.

Atiku made the challenge in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, amid renewed allegations concerning the power sector, privatisation and public assets.

The former vice president said allegations dating back years should not be used to avoid scrutiny over the government’s handling of public finances.

“The National Assembly investigated the power projects. I was never invited to answer any allegation of wrongdoing,” Atiku said.

He acknowledged that he chaired the National Council on Privatisation while serving as vice president from 1999 to 2007, but said he disagreed with the concept of the power project and did not oversee its implementation.

He also rejected allegations relating to the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, saying the responsible minister handled the matter.

Atiku said successive administrations had had sufficient opportunity to investigate him since he left office.

“I have repeatedly asked to be investigated. I left office in 2007 and have spent much of the period since then opposing governments in power,” he said.

“If there is evidence that I stole public money, why has no government produced it before a court?”

He challenged authorities to invite him for questioning, present any evidence against him and prosecute him if a case existed.

“But propaganda cannot substitute for evidence,” he said.

Atiku linked the renewed allegations to his criticism of the government’s economic policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidies.

He said the policy had imposed severe pressure on households, with higher fuel, transport and food costs and declining purchasing power for workers.

“The people who removed subsidy from the poor cannot frighten us into silence by resurrecting allegations that governments with all the investigative machinery of the Nigerian state have had nearly two decades to establish,” he said.

Atiku argued that increased government revenues following the subsidy removal had raised questions over how the additional funds were being used.

He also criticised fiscal incentives, waivers, tax credits and concessions available to businesses, arguing that the government should explain why measures benefiting powerful economic interests were being defended while assistance to struggling Nigerians was portrayed as economically unsustainable.

“You cannot take relief away from the poor, celebrate the resulting revenue and then tell the same impoverished citizens that government intervention on their behalf is economically irresponsible while interventions benefiting powerful interests are called incentives,” he said.

Atiku said he would continue to demand accountability and advocate policies aimed at restoring Nigerians’ purchasing power.

His statement came as political tensions intensified ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the former vice president positioning himself as a critic of the Tinubu administration’s economic policies.

Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, said attempts to pressure him into silence would not alter his demand for answers over the management of public funds.

“If you have evidence against Atiku, bring it. If you have a case, prosecute it,” he said.

“But if you have neither, stop manufacturing distractions and answer Nigerians: You removed the subsidy. You collected the savings. Where is the money?”

The statement was signed by Shaibu on behalf of Atiku on August 26.