Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Presidency’s attempt to invoke China’s legal system in its attacks against him, arguing that the comparison only places President Bola Tinubu under greater public scrutiny.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the Presidency’s argument as a “monumental own goal,” saying its spokesperson had inadvertently highlighted China’s strict penalties for drug-related offences.
According to Atiku, China’s legal system imposes the death penalty for the most serious drug trafficking offences, making it an inappropriate benchmark for the Presidency to use against political opponents.
He maintained that he had never been indicted or convicted of corruption, drug trafficking or any criminal offence in Nigeria or abroad, describing this as “an incontrovertible matter of public record.”
Atiku also argued that if China was to be used as the standard for accountability, Nigerians were entitled to ask how Chinese authorities would have handled the reported forfeiture of $460,000 to the United States government in a civil forfeiture case allegedly linked to narcotics trafficking and money laundering.
The former vice president further stated that China’s justice system is known for its tough stance on corruption, abuse of public office and misappropriation of public funds, alleging that such standards would not accommodate what he described as scandals surrounding the Tinubu administration.
He criticised the signing of what he called a scandal-ridden national budget, alleged misconduct involving a senior presidential aide, and worsening economic hardship under the government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
Atiku also accused the Presidency of overplaying the significance of the United States government’s response to its diplomatic correspondence, insisting that it should not be presented as proof of innocence.
He concluded by suggesting that the President’s media advisers had failed to protect their principal from political missteps by introducing China into the debate.
The statement was signed by Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar, on 25 July 2026.
