Firm accuses Atiku of owing $5.9m US visa processing fee

A firm, Legacy Logistics, LLC based in Abuja has accused the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar of non-payment of $5.9 million used to procure a US visa for him in the run-up to the 2019 general elections.

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, is allegedly refusing to pay $5.9 million that was allegedly used to process an American visa for him, according to Legacy Logistics.

Even though the company claimed that Atiku’s trip was praised by his throngs of supporters, he failed to pay for the goods and services provided. The firm claimed in a letter to the presidential candidate that the agreement was signed on October 15, 2018, through the assistance of its legal counsel, Jurispetus Associates.

“We are solicitors to Legacy Logistics LLC Ltd (hereinafter referred to as our client and on its behalf and instructions we write you,” the letter stated.

“Our client briefed us that you instructed your legal representative Prof. Maxwell Gidado, SAN, and your advisor, Dr. Samuel Cornelius to seek the services of our client to process and procure United States of America visa on your behalf.

“Consequent to your instruction, a scope of service agreement was entered into dated 15 October 2018. The service our client was to provide was based on the agreement as specified in the addendum to the scope of the service agreement.

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“Our client diligently executed the agreement and you were successfully issued the United States of America visa which same was delivered to you. You subsequently used the said visa and traveled to the United States of America whereby your teaming supporters and admirers in Nigeria and the World over applauded you.

“Your Excellency sir, you have intentionally refused and neglected to honor your part of the service agreement despite repeated demands from our client.”

However, Atiku’s legal counsel, Prof. Maxwell Gidado (SAN), who was identified by the company as having knowledge of the agreement, claimed that no visa had been obtained for the PDP candidate by the business.

“My take on the allegation above is that the authors of the allegation are simply fraudsters and extortionists,” he said.

“There has never been any legally binding contract between Atiku Abubakar and themselves. Neither has there been any of that between me authorized by Atiku Abubakar as claimed by them with themselves.

“So this contraption is nothing but an attempt to extort money from Atiku Abubakar. The legal team of Atiku Abubakar is on top of the matter and they will soon be hearing from them.”

Recall that in 2018, Atiku allegedly avoided visiting the US for a period of 13 years out of concern that he might be detained or prosecuted. His political rivals used the occasion to ridicule and denigrate him.

After the FBI looked into a bribery scandal involving William Jefferson, a former US congressman, in 2004, his dispute with US authorities started. Atiku was charged with demanding a $500,000 bribe to help two American telecommunications companies win contracts in Nigeria.

Although the FBI searched his home in the affluent Potomac, Maryland neighborhood, no cash was discovered. The Louisiana congressman Jefferson was caught on camera by the investigators accepting $100,000 worth of $100 bills that he claimed were intended for Atiku, who has repeatedly denied the claim.

Atiku returned to the US for political campaigns in October 2022.