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

Legacy Logistics has accused Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of refusing to pay $5.9million which was allegedly used to process a United States visa for him.

In a letter addressed to the presidential candidate, the company through its law firm, Jurispetus Associates, said the agreement was entered into on October 15, 2018.

“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 upon your instruction, a scope of service agreement was entered into dated 15 October 2018. 

“The service our client was to provide based on the agreement was specified in the addendum to the scope of service agreement. 

“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 travelled 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 honour your part of the service agreement despite repeated demands from our client.”

ATIKU’S CAMP CALLS FIRM ‘FRAUDSTER’ 

When contacted, Gidado, Atiku’s lawyer, said the allegation is an attempt to extort money from the PDP standard bearer.

“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 authorised by Atiku Abubakar as claimed by them with themselves.

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

Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesperson, also described the claimants as “extortionists”. 

In December 2018, TheCable had reported that Atiku was issued a US visa after being unable to visit the country for 13 years.

His row with the US authorities began after the FBI investigated a bribery scandal involving William Jefferson, former US congressman, in 2004.

Atiku was accused of demanding a bribe of $500,000 to facilitate the award of contracts to two American telecommunication firms in Nigeria.

The FBI had searched his residence in the posh neighbourhood of Potomac, Maryland, but no money was found.

The investigators had videotaped Jefferson, who was the congressman representing Louisiana, receiving $100,000 worth of $100 bills which he claimed was meant for Atiku, but the former vice-president has consistently denied the allegation.

Despite Atiku’s claim to innocence, the controversy never fully abated.