Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute him if it has credible evidence linking him to the alleged $16 billion power-sector expenditure incurred during his time in government.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accused the Bola Tinubu administration of recycling old allegations against him to divert public attention from questions surrounding the use of revenues generated from the removal of the petrol subsidy.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the renewed allegations over power projects, privatisation and public assets were aimed at shifting attention from the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

He also demanded greater transparency from the Federal Government on the revenues accrued since the subsidy removal, asking: “Where is the people’s money?”

Atiku said allegations against him had been repeatedly raised over the years without leading to prosecution, despite successive administrations having access to state investigative agencies.

According to him, the renewed focus on the power sector was politically motivated and intended to distract Nigerians from his demand for accountability over the proceeds of subsidy removal.

“They removed subsidy from the poor and promised that the sacrifice would free resources for development. Nigerians accepted extraordinary pain on that promise,” he said.

“At present, petrol is more expensive, transportation is more expensive, food is more expensive and the purchasing power of the Nigerian worker has been devastated,” Atiku added.