It was learnt that the former Vice-President returned from Dubai in a private jet around 12am, after spending over two weeks outside the country.
A PDP chieftain said, “The former Vice-President returned around 12am on Sunday. As you know, campaigns will begin next week and we need to make arrangements.”
The All Progressives Congress had last week called on security agencies to probe the former Vice-President over his trip.
Former Presidential spokesperson, Reno Omokri had earlier raised alarm over the search by security operatives on Atiku’s Private Jet. He wrote;
@Atiku just returned to Nigeria and @MBujarisent a team of Army, Police, Custom & Immigration officers to surround then search his plane. What were they hoping to find? What is Buhari afraid of? Why this harassment? If Buhari performed would he be afraid of losing? #RenosDarts
Why did @MBuhari order such a large military force to surround and search the plane of @Atiku, the Presidential candidate of the @OfficialPDPNig? Was he hoping that they’d find his non existing @WAECNigeria certificate? Our security should face Boko Haram not Atiku #RenosDarts
Confirming the claim above, Atiku Abubakar wrote;
I arrived to Abuja this morning to a search by agents of the state, aimed at intimidating me and my staff. I am committed to building a Nigeria where no citizen is intimidated by agents of state who are paid to protect them. Together, #LetsGetNigeriaWorkingAgain.
A security source who also confirmed the search, said;
“We do not know what they expected to find. But our suspicion is that they expected to find hard currencies on the plane as the opposition All Progressives Congress and supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari have been insinuating that he went to bring in money to prosecute the election.
He was kept on the aircraft while it was searched. But in the end, nothing was found and he was allowed to alight and leave the airport.”