Some documents that allegedly charged Bola Tinubu, the APC's presidential candidate, for money laundering and drug trafficking in the US have resurfaced, according to allegations that they were made public by the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
The popular documents provided information on Tinubu's suspected involvement in drug deals and his purported receipt of illicit funds while in the United States.
According to Peoples Gazette, the 56-page document provided by the district court's headquarters supported the long-held belief that Tinubu would be found guilty of drug crimes in the US after being discovered that he had forfeited up to $460,000 to American authorities in 1993.
Tinubu's spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, accused the media of "recycling the news even though it's nothing new," despite the fact that Tinubu has denied any wrongdoing. "It's dead as a dodo," Bayo added, "wondering why you journalists will keep doing the story."
"It reappeared before the presidential primary and is doing so once more. It's nothing brand-new. It is dead. He declared, "It's as dead as a dodo.
However, the latest allegations, in particular the public release of the total records, may increase pressure on Tinubu, who served as governor of Lagos State for eight years, to disclose his alleged drug activities and money laundering charges.
Although he was never convicted as he did not re-enter the US,
the certified copies of the court case, which were released on August 10,
revealed Tinubu and two others simply named as K.O. Tinubu and Alhaji Mogati
were involved in banking proceeds of illicit drugs and money laundering with
Heritage Bank and Citibank, all in the US.
The personality of Alhaji Mogati remains shrouded as no trace could easily be made of such a person close to Tinubu except that Tinubu’s foster mother was known as Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji. She died in 2013.
Tinubu who was resident in the US when these offenses were
committed returned to Nigeria and made his way into the upper political class
in Nigeria to emerge as Lagos State Governor from 1999 to 2007.
However, his refusal to return to the US when the court case was held reportedly led to huge forfeiture of $460,000 in the Citibank account in the US. The US authority never applied to Nigeria for his extradition, findings showed.
However, this paper gathered that since his accomplices in the
US entered into a plea bargain to avoid a long-drawn court case, the former
Lagos West Senator also enjoyed that privilege as all assets and money were
seized on September 21, 1993.
Reacting, an Abuja-based lawyer, Benson Agada, that
“Tinubu can still face charges in Nigeria and can still be disqualified if
appropriate findings are made and the case is made in court by the Nigerian
government but that’s difficult because it will be impossible politically.
“His party will be shooting itself in the leg to embark on such
a venture except if the president is against him.
“But the evidence is clear that someone who was indicted like
this, to have forfeited such a huge amount of money can stand trial.
“If he had remained in the US, he would have been convicted. And
plea bargain is evidence of guilt, an acceptance that you are guilty,” he
said.
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