Atiku insists Tinubu must face the law for forfeiting $460,000 narcotics money
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Atiku Abubakar has asked Bola Tinubu to face the law over his alleged drug dealing history which necessitated him forfeiting $460,000 to a court in the United States in 1993, a tag he says disqualifies Tinubu from the office of Nigeria’s President.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate accused the President-elect and his All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to spin the forfeiture as relating to tax evasion and not drug charges.
After “the lies” told by Tinubu and his surrogates, the truth has finally been unravelled through the processes filed by the APC at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), Atiku said through his Media Assistant Phrank Shaibu.
“Festus Keyamo had gone on national television to say that Tinubu’s forfeiture of $460,000 was based on tax obligations. At least they have now finally admitted that the forfeiture was in relation to a drug trafficking case even though Tinubu did not admit guilt,” Shaibu stressed in a statement.
“But what has been established is that Justice John Nordberg ordered on October 4, 1993 that the funds in the amount of $460,000 held in First Heritage Bank in the name of Bola Tinubu represent the proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in financial transactions in violation of 18 U.S. 1956 and 1957.
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Tinubu’s past catching up with him
“Tinubu should know that he cannot outrun his past. He was investigated in relation to heroin trafficking. He had millions of dollars in his account while on a salary of $2, 500 monthly, and he forfeited part of it in order to escape jail,
“These are the facts. Elections are over, and he should stop lying to Nigerians,” Shaibu insisted, per reporting by Daily Trust.
He said Keyamo’s lack of understanding of legal proceedings was one of the reasons he allegedly did not perform well as a prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Keyamo is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
But Shaibu argued “Festus Keyamo’s law degree really needs to be investigated. He went on national television to say the $460,000 was a fine for not paying taxes.
“Now, Tinubu is telling the Election Petitions Tribunal that the money in question was forfeited as part of a court decree in relation to his drug case. No wonder Keyamo lost so many high profile cases with the EFCC while he was a prosecutor.”
Shaibu knocked Tinubu for claiming he was not under investigation, but only the funds in his bank accounts were under probe.
He asked Tinubu to explain to Nigerians how he was able to deposit millions of dollars one year in bank accounts while earning a salary of $2,500 at Mobil.
“Tinubu should stop taking Nigerians for a ride. Let him explain the business he did in order to have such a humongous sum of money in his account.”
Shaibu said a Tinubu presidency would represent a setback in the fight against narcotics, given his antecedents and his open admission.
He urged the US authorities to set aside diplomatic protocols and furnish the Nigerian judiciary with all information relating to the trial and verdict of the US investigation of Tinubu over drug dealings and his forfeiture of $460,000 during his conviction.
“The US should not associate with electoral thieves by merely stating whether he is still under probe or not. We need in-depth details of this corn-man.”