By Jude Opara, Abuja

Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has described as “infantile, rash and fatuous,” attempts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to link him with suspected cyber criminals on the basis of a group picture taken at a public event.

Spokesperson of the APC, Yekini Nabena had in a statement attempted to link Dogara with Hushpuppi, the suspected cyber criminal who is standing trial for a number of offences.

In a statement by his media Assistant, Turaki Hassan, the former Speaker said “it is share mindlessness to attempt to execute mischief and blackmail in plain sight before the public some of whom are better informed.

He said it was foolhardy to link people to criminal activity simply because they appeared in a group picture at a public event comprising of people from different walks of life.

“If appearing in a group photograph is what Nabena is now using to establish a link or connection to crimes or alleged criminals then why didn’t he issue such a statement in the wake of the arrest of a suspected money launderer by name Ismaila Mustapha, AKA: Mompha whose pictures with notable personalities including some APC Governors are all over the social media? Is Nabena guilty of selective amnesia or share perfidy? Who is Nabena scared of? Who is he trying to fool?,” the former Speaker queried in the statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

The statement said Dogara has agreed to wave his right to a trial and go to jail if Nabena established any form of links or connection between him and the alleged cyber criminal before the event where the picture was taken and after the event until now.

“For Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, that picture was just another picture among the thousands, if not hundred of thousands of such pictures with Nigerians from all walks of life.

“If the said Nabena is worth his salt, next time he speaks he should speak to issues affecting the welfare of our union which are well known to all discerning Nigerians.

“Nabena should or ought to know that there is no honour in speaking about group pictures taken at public events when the nation is bleeding and most Nigerian families are struggling and hurting.

.Atiku Threatens Court Action Against Ruling-Party

Meanwhile, former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections, Atiku Abubakar yesterday threatened to sue the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for linking with cyber criminal, Hushpuppi.

The APC had in the aftermath of the arrest of Hushpuppi in the United Arab Emirates and his extradition to the United States, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe his link to some PDP chieftains.

A statement by APC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena had named the PDP chieftains to include former Senate President, Abubakar Saraki, ex-presidential candidate; Atiku Abubakar, and former Kogi West Senator; Dino Melaye.

But in a statement, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe warned that such statements would attract legal actions, stressing that such should not be used for political blackmail.

 “It is curious that the All Progressives Congress is mischievously trying to link Atiku Abubakar to the alleged fraudster, Ramon Abbas, AKA Hushpuppi, simply because he was photographed with Atiku at an event where many Nigerians had gathered.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it was a mere photo-op and not at any meeting as being ingloriously speculated.

“We would advise the APC and Mr. Nabena to be very mindful of such senseless statements in the future especially as the case under reference is a subject of litigation in another country.

“Had they been more sensitive, they would have come to terms with the reality that the case is a national embarrassment – not something to cheer about for any political blackmail.”

Also in his reaction, Saraki described the statement comparing him to Hushpuppi, as an attempt by the APC to play “dirty, cheap, and irresponsible politics”.

In a statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu, media aide to Saraki said the action of the APC will rather weaken the ongoing efforts against corruption.

“The statement credited to the APC, the ruling party in our country, is one of the ways by which our anti-graft agencies are weakened why the fight against corruption in the country is often viewed with suspicion by the international community,” it read.