A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Forum for Non-Governmental Organisations of Nigeria, on Wednesday urged the American government to reject the visa application of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 16, 2019 election.
The protesters marched to the entrance of the embassy at Diplomatic Drive, Central Area, Abuja chanting solidarity songs.
Convener of the forum, Mr Wale Badmus, said that “granting Abubakar an American visa at this time” would imply that American government was encouraging corruption in Nigeria.
“It has been in the news of recent that the American government was in the process of approving an entry visa for Atiku, and we are here to tell them not to do so.
“Granting him an entry visa at this time will imply that that American government is trying to encourage corruption and impede the war against corruption in Nigeria,’’ he said.
Badmus said that a 2008 civil complaint by the American Security and Exchange commission implicated Abubakar, who was Nigeria’s former Vice President, in a $2million bribery scandal.
“In 2009, Congressman , William Jefferson, a major accomplice in the bribery scandal was tried and convicted in the US district court in Virginia, and was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment.
“Granting Abubakar’s ’ visa request will amount to a negation of the Patriot Act which makes the acceptance of foreign corruption a U.S money laundering offence,’’ he said.
Atiku’s eligibility for entry visa into the U.S. has dominated political discussions since he declared interest in running for the presidency.
