How do you respond to claims that you enriched yourself corruptly while in government?
I had a successful career as a public servant, rising to the top of the Nigeria Customs Service, with a record that was sterling and unblemished, and I was never accused of corruption in all my years of service. Before joining politics, I made strategic investments in oil and gas logistics that brought me fortune. I am wealthy because God opened my eyes to spot smart opportunities, not because I stole from anyone.
Where this comes from
p. 1 Introduction Atiku Abubakar: Answers to questions from the public 2026-10-02 ›
What happened to the PTDF money?
The amount of money involved in the scandal was $145 million. The amount was not traced to any personal account and was saved in commercial banks: Equatorial Trust Bank and Trans International Bank. I was never a stakeholder in either bank, and the PTDF money in both banks was intact. The PTDF management testimonies during the trial proved my innocence in the trial.
How do you respond to allegations that you corruptly enriched yourself while in government?
I have had a successful career as a public servant, rising to the top echelon of the Nigeria Customs Service. My record of service was sterling and unblemished. I was never accused of corruption in my entire service years. Before joining politics, I had made some strategic investments in oil and gas logistics that were fetching me fortunes. I have been business-minded right from the outset, and my exposure in the course of my professional career opened my eyes to good business ideas. I am wealthy not because I stole from anyone, but because God opened my eyes to spot smart opportunities.
