Atiku confirms arrival in US

Atiku Abubakar

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has confirmed his arrival in Washington DC, United States.

He confirmed his arrival on Twitter on Thursday night, ending speculations that his reported arrival might have been fake news.

“Just arrived Washington D.C for meeting with US government officials, Nigerians living in D.C metropolis and the business community,” he wrote.

The Embassy of Nigeria in the United States had earlier said it was not yet sure if Atiku would be visiting the US any moment soon.

A source at the embassy had told the News Agency of Nigeria that the embassy was yet to get official information about his whereabouts in the US.

Daily Trust had also quoted Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, debunking reports of Atiku travelling to the United States.

Ibe reportedly told Daily Trust via a telephone chat on Thursday afternoon that online reports which stated that Atiku had travelled to the US were a figment of the imagination of the authors.

“You know what the social media can do. You know the social media for what they are now. It is not true. His Excellency hasn’t gone anywhere,” he was quoted to have said.

Earlier reports said Atiku had touched down in the US to address the US Chamber of Commerce on Friday, from 2:30pm to 4pm local time.

Atiku was said to have been issued a US visa, last December, for the first time in 13 years.

The visa was reportedly facilitated by his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo.