By Minister of Defence, Muhammed Abubakar Badaru, calling it an attempt to discredit him. The petition, submitted to the EFCC and ICPC, accuses Badaru of abusing his office and violating federal laws by maintaining business interests.
In a statement, ATT convener Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu said, “Nigerians should not introduce ethnicity into the good work Badaru is doing. If he was not performing, President Tinubu would have removed him.” He described the petition as an act of envy against Badaru’s ministerial position.
The petition alleges that Badaru continues to file annual returns for private businesses, including a licensed Bureau de Change (BDC), while holding office. ATT dismissed these claims as “deliberate lies cooked up from the pit of hell.”
ATT called for EFCC and ICPC to investigate the petitioners instead, questioning their credibility. They argued that false accusations threaten national security and should be stopped immediately.
The group also defended Badaru’s appointment, stating that he went through the proper vetting process before becoming Minister of Defence. They suggested that the petition was an attack on President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
ATT urged the anti-corruption agencies to expose the petitioners, whom they believe are working with malicious intent to tarnish the minister’s reputation.
