Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over an alleged unauthorised payment made into one of his private bank accounts, saying the incident may indicate that his confidential banking information has been compromised.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
According to the statement, an individual whose identity is unknown to Atiku transferred money into his private account with the narration “Contribution Electioneering Campaign.”
Atiku's camp said neither the former vice president nor his campaign organisation solicited, authorised or was aware of the payment before it was made.
The statement described the circumstances surrounding the transaction as concerning, particularly because the affected account is a private account whose details are not publicly available.
“How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?” the statement questioned.
Atiku also expressed concern that the incident could raise wider questions about the protection of Nigerians' financial information.
He said if the banking details of a former vice president and presidential candidate could allegedly be obtained and used without his knowledge, it could potentially put other Nigerians at risk.
The former vice president further raised the possibility that the information could have been obtained through someone with privileged access to confidential banking data.
According to his statement, any unauthorised disclosure of sensitive financial information could expose account holders to security risks, including potential targeting by criminals.
Atiku said security agencies and members of the public had been informed about the development, describing it as one of several incidents he considers suspicious ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He urged Nigerians not to be distracted by what he described as attempts to damage his reputation as political activities intensify.
Atiku maintained that he remains focused on his political campaign and his commitment to providing what he described as credible leadership and practical solutions to Nigeria's challenges.
