Atiku raises alarm over suspicious credit to private Bank Account, alleges possible data breach

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over a suspicious credit into one of his private bank accounts, alleging that his confidential banking information may have been compromised.

Atiku disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

According to the statement, the transfer originated from an individual unknown to the former vice president and carried the narration, “Contribution Electioneering Campaign.”

The statement stressed that neither Atiku nor his campaign solicited, authorised or had prior knowledge of the individual or entity responsible for the payment.

“Neither His Excellency nor his campaign solicited, authorised or has any knowledge of the individual or entity behind the unauthorised payment,” the statement said.

It described the transaction as deeply troubling, noting that the account is a strictly private one whose details are not publicly available.

“The account is a strictly private one whose details are not in the public domain. This raises a fundamental question: How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?” the statement added.

Atiku expressed concern that if the confidential banking details of a former vice president and presidential candidate could be accessed, the financial privacy of ordinary Nigerians could also be at risk.

“If the private banking information of a former Vice President and a leading presidential candidate can be accessed and deployed for reasons yet unknown, then no Nigerian’s financial privacy is safe,” the statement quoted him as saying.

The former vice president further alleged that the information may have been obtained through individuals with privileged access, describing such a possibility as deeply disturbing.

According to him, if established, such a breach could expose account holders to serious security risks, including kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, fraud and other criminal activities.

Atiku said security agencies and the Nigerian public had been put on notice over the development, describing it as one of several suspicious incidents occurring ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“We therefore put the Nigerian public — and the security agencies — on notice about this latest incident in a litany of suspicious activities leading up to next year’s general elections,” he said.

He also urged Nigerians not to be distracted by what he described as attempts to tarnish his reputation as political activities gather momentum.

“As political activities gather momentum, Nigerians should not be distracted by these tired tactics that smack of character assassination. Such desperate antics have failed before and will fail again,” the statement read.

Atiku maintained that he remains focused on offering what he described as credible leadership and practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

“The Waziri Adamawa remains focused on offering Nigerians credible leadership and practical solutions to the nation’s challenges,” the statement added.