An Abuja-based firm, Legacy Logistics, LLC 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.

According to the company in a letter to the former Vice President, he failed to honour his part of an agreement they had regarding the service rendered to him since 2018.

“That you instructed your legal representative, Professor 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,” the company said in the letter written by its law firm, Jurisperitus Associates (copy attached).

“Consequent upon your instruction, a scope of service of agreement was entered into dated 15th October 2018. The service of our client was to provide base on the agreement were specified in the addendum 1 to the scope of service agreement.

“Our client diligently executed the agreement and you were successfully issued the United States of American visa which same was delivered to you.”

Before 2018, Atiku failed to travel to the US in about 13 years over alleged fear of possible arrest or prosecution.

His political opponents capitalise on the situation to taunt and discredit him.

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 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.

In October 2022, Atiku returned to the US for political campaigns.(SaharaReporters)