- Finally, US Issues Atiku Visa After 13 Years
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has finally been issued a visa by the embassy of the United States of America in Nigeria.
According to TheCable, a family source confirmed that the People’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate has travelled to the United Kingdom, from where he would jet out to the US.
The former president Olusegun Obasanjo was said to have played a critical role in getting the US government to issue the visa, according to TheCable.
The trip, if true, will put an end to the controversy that has trailed Atiku Abubakar for over ten years.
Atiku, who is widely travelled, has not been to the US in the last 13 years, fueling speculation the former vice president might be avoiding possible prosecution following bribery allegation by US government.
The former vice president was mentioned in a bribery investigation involving former US congressman, William Jefferson, in 2004.
Despite Atiku been accused of demanding $500,000 bribe to facilitate contracts to two American telecommunication companies in Nigeria, the former vice president maintained his innocence.
FBI had videotaped Jefferson, a congressman representing Louisiana, receiving US$100,000 which he claimed was meant for the then vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, a claim Atiku consistently denied.
The ruling party, All Progressives Congress, had written to the US embassy against issuing Atiku a visa during election period as it would mean support for his candidacy and could be interpreted as election meddling.
However, the US embassy Nigeria, denied any support saying visa issues are private matters according to the US law and not meant to be discussed publicly.
The embassy further explained that Atiku Abubakar like any other visa applicant can come in for a visa interview any time.
