Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over a suspicious credit into one of his private bank accounts, describing the development as a potential threat to financial privacy and security.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku disclosed that the transfer came from an individual unknown to him with the narration, “Contribution Electioneering Campaign.” He maintained that neither he nor his campaign solicited, authorised or had any knowledge of the payment.

The former vice president said the circumstances surrounding the transaction were “deeply troubling,” noting that the account is a strictly private one whose details are not in the public domain.

“The account is a strictly private one whose details are not in the public domain. This raises a fundamental question: How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?”

Atiku warned that if the private banking information of a former vice president and leading presidential candidate could be accessed, then the financial privacy of every Nigerian was at risk.
“If the private banking information of a former Vice President and a leading presidential candidate can be accessed and deployed for reasons yet unknown then no Nigerian’s financial privacy is safe.”

He also expressed concern that the confidential information may have been obtained through persons with privileged access, saying that if established, it would amount to a grave abuse of power capable of exposing account holders to kidnappers, terrorists, bandits, fraudsters and other criminal elements.

The former vice president said the public and security agencies had been put on notice over what he described as the latest in a series of suspicious developments ahead of next year’s general elections.

“We therefore put the Nigerian public – and the security agencies – on notice about this latest incident in a litany of suspicious activities leading up to next year’s general elections.”

Atiku insisted he would not be distracted by the incident as political activities gather momentum.

“As political activities gather momentum, Nigerians should not be distracted by these tired tactics that smack of character assassination. Such desperate antics have failed before and will fail again. The Waziri Adamawa remains focused on offering Nigerians credible leadership and practical solutions to the nation’s challenges.”