Former Vice President and Presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has ultimately obtained a visa to the United States.
The Cable conveys that a family insider reveals Atiku has departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom, from where he will proceed to the US.
This development follows a dispute regarding his inability to travel to the United States due to corruption accusations that have shadowed his persona since he served as Vice President 15 years prior.
Atiku had been restricted from entering the US for 13 years based on concerns that he could be apprehended by officials following an FBI probe into bribery associated with him and former US congressman, William Jefferson, in 2004.
His conflict with US officials commenced after the FBI scrutinized a bribery scandal involving William Jefferson, the former US congressman, back in 2004.
According to The Cable, “Atiku was alleged to have solicited a bribe of $500,000 to facilitate the awarding of contracts to two American telecommunications companies in Nigeria.
The investigators had recorded Jefferson, who was the congressman for Louisiana, accepting $100,000 worth of $100 bills, which he asserted was intended for Atiku, but the former vice president has consistently refuted the claim.”
In a conversation with Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu, Atiku reiterated his denial of the allegations stating, “It is America’s exclusive right to decide who they wish to allow into their country or otherwise. I’m not evading America. I applied but wasn’t granted a visa.”
