The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded that the Presidency provide a detailed explanation regarding a reported $460,000 forfeiture linked to President Bola Tinubu.
The demand was made through Shaibu, an ally of the former Vice President, who challenged the current administration to stop targeting Atiku’s associates and instead address questions surrounding the President’s own financial history.
The dispute centers on a series of conflicting financial allegations, with Shaibu asserting that the Presidency should account for a $9 million arrangement and a specific $460,000 forfeiture before scrutinising Atiku’s finances.
According to Shaibu, the Presidency has spent undue energy attacking a lobbyist associated with Atiku rather than answering substantive questions about the President’s assets. He argued that it is contradictory for the administration to focus on a reported $1.2 million linked to Atiku while ignoring the larger sums allegedly associated with the President.
The confrontation follows claims regarding the President’s financial arrangements and an alleged attempt by government spokespersons to discredit the messengers delivering these allegations.
Financial allegations and political tensions
This exchange is the latest in a long history of mutual accusations between the two political figures. The mention of “forfeiture” suggests a legal or regulatory action in a foreign jurisdiction, though the specific nature of the $460,000 forfeiture has not been detailed in official government documents released to the public.
In the Nigerian political landscape, accusations of illicit foreign accounts and unexplained wealth are frequently used as tools for political leverage, particularly between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition. By pivoting the conversation toward the $9 million arrangement, Atiku’s camp is attempting to shift the narrative from defensive to offensive.
The involvement of a lobbyist adds another layer to the conflict. Lobbying efforts in foreign capitals, particularly Washington D.C., are common for high-ranking Nigerian politicians seeking to influence international perception or policy. When the Presidency attacks such intermediaries, it often signals a broader effort to disrupt the opposition’s international diplomatic channels.
Atiku Abubakar has consistently maintained that his financial dealings are transparent, while President Tinubu has previously denied allegations regarding his assets during his tenure as governor of Lagos State and his time in private practice.
The Presidency has not yet issued a formal response to these specific demands for an accounting of the $460,000 and $9 million figures. It remains unclear whether these claims will lead to formal legal petitions or remain as part of the ongoing political rhetoric between the two camps.
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