The transactions involved a certain Marine Float Account domiciled at the now acquired Trans International Bank through which public funds belonging to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) was alleged to have been used to promote private interests. Pushing blame wholly onto the Vice President, Oyo said: “Vice President Atiku Abubakar authorized that fixed deposits be paid by PTDF under his supervision into ETB (Equitorial Trust Bank) and TIB (Trans International Bank) without authorization of the Federal Executive Council.

Further, she said that between July and December 2003, the PTDF first deposited $30 million, revealing that: “less than 90 days after the first deposit on October 10, 2003, TIB advanced a loan of N400 million to NDTV and two days later gave a loan of N420 million to MOFAS. Otunba Oyewole Fasawe has interests in NDTV and MOFAS and serves as chairman of both companies. A second loan of N30 million was given again to NDTV by TIB barely two months later on January 1, 2004.

“Some eight months before its first TIB loan, February 18 2003, MOFAS gave N250 million to Marine Float a company owned by Vice President Atiku Abubakar and incorporated in 1992. The Vice President’s company, Marine Float, had in the preceding month paid N30 million as deposit for the purchase of the headquarters of NDTV confirming the Vice President’s interests in NDTV.

“From October, 2003, MOFAS paid more than N500 million to Umar Pariya, the Personal Assistant of Vice President Atiku Abubakar. On one occasion, the sum of N61 million was paid by MOFAS directly to the Vice President on Jan. 29, 2001. MOFAS also paid N60 million directly to Musa Garba on May 22, 2002. Garba is, among other things, a contractor who works for the ABTI establishment comprising the Academy and University) owned by the Vice President.”

Distancing the president from running a common campaign fund pool with his deputy, the Vice President, the SSA further disclosed that there was no truth in the controversial N100 million allegedly donated to the PDP by Plateau Governor, Joshua Dariye; as the cheque for the money was written in: “ the name of Marine Float, owned by Vice President Atiku Abubakar,” adding that: “ the date on the All States Trust Bank cheque is August 15, 2001, two clear years before the Presidential elections in 2003.”

Continuing, Remi Oyo said: “ following the insistence of the EFCC that the money be refunded, the Vice President begged the President to help him as he had no money. The President agreed to give fifty million naira. (There are witnesses. Copy of the cheque and report attached as annexure); adding that: “ this is not the first time that the President has had to come to the aid of the Vice President when he so requested.

According to the SSA Media to the President in a 7- page statement accompanied by photocopies of 7 cheques leaves allegedly issued to the vice president and his aides - with a N61 million draft in the Vice President’s name; the latter’s allegation of political persecution “ is far fetched by all standards,” adding that: “neither the President nor anybody had an inkling of the dealings in PDTF until he was tipped off by Jefferson, whose links to Vice President Atiku Abubakar is well known. Secondly, the country would not have known that a public trust like the PTDF had been used to further private interests had NDTV and iGate not disagreed on a deal and petitioned the President.”

Consequently posited Remi Oyo: “allegations that the funds were used for campaigns are to say the least, false. The payments were not made in relation to campaign expenses. For instance, past payment for the NDTV headquarters by Marine Float owned by Vice President Atiku Abubakar cannot be said to be a campaign related expenditure”, adding that: “monies in excess of 400 million naira paid by MOFAS in October 2003 cannot be said to be campaign expenditure . What campaign, we dare ask, was on in October 2003, four months after the President and the Vice President had been sworn into office?”

Endingher statement, Remi Oyo reiterated that: “it is important to note that efforts are being made to divert attention from the real issues in this case. Beyond the calculations for future office, what we need to establish is whether the allegation raise a hint of gross misconduct, abuse of office, corruption, accountability and violation of the constitution to which the Vice President swore to protect,” adding that: “we need to establish whether the allegations relate to a violation of public morality and ethics which strike forcefully at the foundations of the anti-corruption policy of this