Fresh details have emerged on why former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is deeply concerned over a strange payment made into his personal bank account, with fears that the transaction could be part of an attempt to associate him with individuals or activities unknown to him.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that beyond the unsolicited payment itself, concerns have arisen over the identity and possible motives of the sender, particularly against the backdrop of the description attached to the transaction: “Contribution Electioneering Campaign.”

Atiku, through his spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, had raised the alarm after discovering the payment, insisting that neither the former Vice President nor his political organisation solicited or authorised it.

“Neither His Excellency nor his campaign solicited, authorised or has any knowledge of the individual or entity behind the unauthorised payment,” Shaibu said in a statement.

However, Saturday Vanguard gathered that one of the major concerns surrounding the transaction is the possibility that unsolicited funds could be used to create a financial trail linking the former Vice President to persons or activities with which he has no connection.

There are fears within Atiku’s camp that unexplained payments could potentially expose the recipient to questions over links to terrorism financing, drug trafficking, fraud or other criminal activities, particularly where the true source and purpose of the funds remain unknown.

There is, however, no evidence presently available to Saturday Vanguard that the money originated from any terrorist, drug trafficking or other criminal organisation. The concern is over the potential implications of receiving unexplained funds and the possibility that such transactions could subsequently be used to create damaging associations.

How Did Sender Get Atiku’s Account Details?

Another source of worry is how the sender obtained Atiku’s personal banking details in the first place.

According to the earlier statement by Shaibu, the account into which the money was paid is strictly personal and its details are not publicly available.

“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?” the statement said.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that there are concerns that the account information, which may ordinarily be accessible to the bank and relevant financial regulatory institutions in the course of their statutory responsibilities, could have been improperly disclosed.

Atiku’s camp has consequently raised questions over whether somebody with privileged access to sensitive financial information may have been responsible for exposing the details.

“Even more disturbing is the suspicion that such confidential information may have been obtained through persons with privileged access,” the statement said.

Bank Launches Investigation

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the bank involved, one of Nigeria’s top five banks, has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the transaction.

The bank was expected to revert to Atiku with its findings at the weekend as efforts continued to establish how the transaction occurred and, crucially, whether it could help identify its origin.

Further checks by Saturday Vanguard indicated that the money was transferred from an OPay account, potentially adding another layer to efforts to establish the identity behind the payment.

While transactions conducted through regulated financial platforms ordinarily leave records that may assist investigations, Atiku’s concern remains that the person immediately associated with the transfer may not necessarily reveal who ultimately initiated or motivated it.

Wider Security Concerns

The former Vice President believes the implications extend beyond his personal circumstances.

“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,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Atiku also warned that unauthorised access to confidential financial information could create potentially serious security vulnerabilities for ordinary Nigerians.

“If established, this would amount to a grave abuse of power capable of exposing the account holder to kidnappers, terrorists, bandits, fraudsters and other criminal elements,” the statement added.

For Atiku, therefore, the mystery is not simply about money unexpectedly appearing in his account.

The questions are who sent it, why it was labelled an electioneering campaign contribution, how the sender obtained details of a private account and what purpose the transaction was intended to serve. Those questions have assumed greater significance given Atiku’s status as a former Vice President and prominent opposition politician ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to his spokesman, the matter has already been brought to the attention of security agencies and the Nigerian public.

His camp views the development as one of a number of suspicious incidents in the political environment ahead of 2027 and wants the source of the payment, as well as how the sender obtained the account details, conclusively established.

Until those questions are answered, the strange deposit is being treated not as a windfall but as a potential security and political red flag. (Vanguard)

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