Code of Conduct Bureau vs Tinubu: US, UK banks release accounts details *Ex-gov may be declared wanted *He lied on oath -Bureau *SRLN, US group react



Pieces of evidence needed by the Federal Government to prosecute the alleged illegal operation of foreign accounts by the former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have been reportedly released by the banks where the 16 accounts are said to be domiciled in the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA).


The charge filed against him by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice would be prosecuted by the Code of Conduct Bureau which is directly under the Presidency and empowered under the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) to prosecute public officers who run afoul of the assets declaration law.


The 1999 Constitution forbids public office holders from operating foreign accounts while in office, while those they have in operation before assumption of office are to be closed for the duration of the tenure of office.


Code of Conduct Bureau, while charging Tinubu before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, claimed that Tinubu operated and maintained 16 foreign accounts in the USA and UK while in office between 1999 and 2007 and lied on oath while filling the mandatory asset declaration form for public officers before being sworn-in into office, by not disclosing the said accounts in his forms.


Operation of foreign accounts by public officials was banned by the law to forestall money laundering, though the chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Sam Saba, had disclosed a new discovery which showed that public officials now open foreign accounts in the names of their family members and relatives and use left hands to sign, in order to disguise the real identity of the owners.


Some of the foreign accounts allegedly traced to Tinubu by the bureau are in the names of his wife and children.


All the accounts in his wife and children names, according to the charge, are domiciled in the UK, while all the USA accounts bears his name as well as a few ones in the UK.


A source within the system noted that the proof of evidence against him had been packaged, following the release of evidential documents from the banks, which reportedly revealed dates of transactions that fell within his time in office, as well as the movement of monies in and out of the accounts.


Nigeria has a working understanding with both the USA and UK on the issue of money laundering.


A number of witnesses were also said to have been lined up, with the source refusing to disclose their identities for security reasons.


The source added that the new proof of evidence was more loaded than the previous one attached to the charge brought against him in 2007, noting that the amended charge was made to include allegation of maintaining the accounts while in office, in order to pre-empt him from using the excuse that he had been operating them before becoming governor.


It was also gathered that the excuse that the accounts pre-dated his coming to office would not avail him, because he did not list them in his asset declaration form.


Unlike the usual practice of lawyers from the office of the AGF prosecuting, it was learnt that an experienced Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) had been hired by the prosecution to lead the legal team.


The proof of evidence had been previously filed before the tribunal by the bureau with a source revealing that a more detailed proof of evidence might be added to the case this week.


It was also gathered that the former governor might be declared wanted if he failed to heed the summons of the tribunal, with a source saying that he might not show up on the trial date and bring preliminary objection.


"Just like they did in (Nuhu) Ribadu's case and shielded him from appearing before the tribunal until they applied the political solution and those who did that are very much around this person too, but we are waiting," said the source.


The source added that in the likely scenario that he brought a preliminary objection, his application would be treated first by the tribunal before the consideration for a bench warrant, if he still failed to appear in an event of his objection not succeeding.


Issuance of a fresh summons by the tribunal was confirmed by the Sunday Tribune source, who explained that the case was taken to be fresh because of the amendment to the charge and re-packaged proof of evidence, despite that it was initiated in 2007, which informed the decision of the tribunal to serve a fresh summons on him for appearance on the trial date.


The tribunal, on Friday, disclosed that it had fixed the commencement of the trial for September 21, in Abuja.


A statement signed by Special Adviser/Director, Abdulazeez Moh. Badisha, on behalf of the tribunal's chairman, claimed that Tinubu contravened Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap 56 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (As Amended), which is punishable under Section 23 (2) thereof as incorporated under Paragraph 18, Part 1, Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.


Some of the banks in the USA mentioned in the charge as holding Tinubu's alleged illegal accounts are; First Heritage Bank, Country Club Hills, Citibank NA New York, where he allegedly kept six accounts both in his name and that of Compass Finance and Investment Company Ltd; and Citibank International New York, where he allegedly kept two accounts.


In the UK, HSBC of 177 Great Portland Street, London, WIW 6QJ, is listed as his only bank of choice, with seven different accounts listed against his name, his wife's and children's, with Shade Oluremi Tinubu reportedly holding three different accounts; Bola, two; and his kids, one each.


The bureau claimed in a seven-paragraph affidavit supporting the charge, deposed to by Ikechi Iwuagwu, a deputy director, that "on 4th of March, 2003, before the expiration of the first term in office of Governor Bola Tinubu, an asset declaration form CCB-1 was sent to the accused person as a public officer. The accused person declared his assets and liabilities in the said form and returned the form to our office on 6th January, 2004. A copy of the said form is hereby attached and marked as Exhibit "A."All the assets declared by the accused person are as indicated in the assets declaration from CCB-1. The accused person did not declare any other things/assets or the operation of several foreign bank accounts in the said assets declaration form CCB-1 submitted by the accused person marked as Exhibit A. I was informed by Mr. O. T. Olatigbe, counsel handling this matter, and I verily believe him that the accused person is still operating several foreign bank accounts which he did not declare before the Code of Conduct Bureau."

The accounts, as listed in the charge, with the account names, numbers and sort codes, are as follows:


*Name of Bank: First Heritage Bank, Country Club Hills, Illinois, USA.


Account Name -Bola Tinubu


Account No -263226700.


*Name of Bank: Citibank NA New York, USA


Account Name -Bola Tinubu & Compass Finance and Investment Company Ltd.


Account Nos -39483134, 39483396, 4650279566, 00400220, 39936404, 39936383.


*Name of Bank: Citibank International New York


Account Name -Bola Tinubu


Account No -52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953


*Name of Bank: HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street, London, WIW 6QJ.


Account Name -Sen. Bola Tinubu


Account No -71253670


SORT Code -40-03-15


*Name of Bank :HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street, London, WIW 6QJ.


Account Name -Sen. Bola Oluremi Tinubu


Account No -71253670


SORT Code -40-03-15


*Name of Bank: HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street, London, WIW 6OJ.


Account Name -Sen. Bola Tinubu-Money Market


Account No -04320002DN.


*Name of Bank: HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London, WIW 6OJ.


Account name: Tinubu Habitat Oyindamola (Miss)


Account No - 1320960111


*Name of Bank: HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW 60J


Account Name -Tinubu Zainab Abisola (Miss)


Account No -72447101


*Name of Bank: HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW 60J


Account Name -Tinubu Oluremi Shade


Account No - 1916667988


*Name of Bank: HSBC 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 60J


Account Name: Oluremi Shade Tinubu


Account No - 41421522.


Reactions


Meanwhile, an Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN), has hailed the Code of Conduct Tribunal over the planned commencement of the criminal trial of Tinubu.


The group described the trial already scheduled to begin on September 21 as a welcome development, adding that; "Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations, must begin to speak with one voice against corruption, because it (corruption) has no political party."


The SRLN said in a statement issued on Saturday by its Coordinator, Comrade Chima Ubeku, that with the impending trial of Tinubu, those thinking that they were sacred cows ought to begin to have a rethink.


The group also urged the Federal Government to prosecute Tinubu for alleged perjury, saying; "he lied on oath by refusing to declare the operation of many foreign bank accounts in the assets declaration form CCB-1 he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau on 6th January, 2004.


"This is a kind of news that gladdens our hearts and we hope that the Code of Conduct Tribunal will pursue the case to a logical conclusion.


"We are also waiting to hear from those bread and butter groups to make the kind of noise that they used to make whenever a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member is on trial for alleged corruption.


"We want to read editorials in the newspapers against Tinubu as it was done against people like Chief Bode George; former Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; former Delta State governor, Chies James Ibori; among others," the group said.


While calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to also clear the air on the allegations of corruption against Tinubu, which its former chairman, Ribadu, said the commission investigated and that it had 'international dimension.'


SRLN asked; "has the international dimension of the case ended with Tinubu and Ribadu holding hands at campaign rallies?"


In a similar vein, the Justice For All Nations (JFAN), a US-based NGO, called for the trial of Tinubu for perjury, just as it commended the will to start his trial for illegal operation of foreign accounts.


The group noted that since Tinubu lied on oath to the Code of Conduct Bureau on the accounts, he ought to face the music separately.


"Most importantly too, the EFCC must tell Nigerians what has happened to the case against Tinubu, which its former chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, said had international dimension," the group said.


In the statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr. Dada Popoola, the group charged President Goodluck Jonathan to demonstrate to Nigerians that he had the will to tackle corruption, saying, "we are happy that the Code of Conduct Tribunal has woken up to its responsibilities and we urge that this case be diligently prosecuted.


"It is also hoped that the EFCC will tell Nigerians where Tinubu's corruption case files are being kept.


"At least, we are aware that Ribadu said publicly that 'Tinubu's corruption has international dimension and there is no time for the EFCC to tell Nigerians what has happened to that corruption case and its international dimension.


"Tinubu should also be made to face criminal charge for perjury because he lied on oath by refusing to declare the operation of several foreign bank accounts in the assets declaration form CCB-1 he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau on 6th January, 2004."


http://odili.net/news/source/2011/sep/11/610.html

The bolded account below is the one I am interested in. This is an amalgamation of his name and his wife's name. Clearly set up for fraud.

White007:

The accounts, as listed in the charge, with the account names, numbers and sort codes, are as follows:


*Name of Bank: First Heritage Bank, Country Club Hills, Illinois, USA.


Account Name -Bola Tinubu


Account No -263226700.


*Name of Bank: Citibank NA New York, USA


Account Name -Bola Tinubu & Compass Finance and Investment Company Ltd.


Account Nos -39483134, 39483396, 4650279566, 00400220, 39936404, 39936383.


*Name of Bank: Citibank International New York


Account Name -Bola Tinubu


Account No -52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953


*Name of Bank: HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street, London, WIW 6QJ.


Account Name -Sen. Bola Tinubu


Account No -71253670


SORT Code -40-03-15


[size=20pt]*Name of Bank :HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street, London, WIW 6QJ.


Account Name -Sen. Bola Oluremi Tinubu


Account No -71253670


SORT Code -40-03-15

[/size]
*Name of Bank: HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street, London, WIW 6OJ.


Account Name -Sen. Bola Tinubu-Money Market


Account No -04320002DN.


*Name of Bank: HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London, WIW 6OJ.


Account name: Tinubu Habitat Oyindamola (Miss)


Account No - 1320960111


*Name of Bank: HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW 60J


Account Name -Tinubu Zainab Abisola (Miss)


Account No -72447101


*Name of Bank: HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW 60J


Account Name -Tinubu Oluremi Shade


Account No - 1916667988


*Name of Bank: HSBC 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 60J


Account Name: Oluremi Shade Tinubu


Account No - 41421522.


Reactions


Meanwhile, an Abuja based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Society for Rule of Law in Nigeria (SRLN), has hailed the Code of Conduct Tribunal over the planned commencement of the criminal trial of Tinubu.


The group described the trial already scheduled to begin on September 21 as a welcome development, adding that; "Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations, must begin to speak with one voice against corruption, because it (corruption) has no political party."


The SRLN said in a statement issued on Saturday by its Coordinator, Comrade Chima Ubeku, that with the impending trial of Tinubu, those thinking that they were sacred cows ought to begin to have a rethink.


The group also urged the Federal Government to prosecute Tinubu for alleged perjury, saying; "he lied on oath by refusing to declare the operation of many foreign bank accounts in the assets declaration form CCB-1 he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau on 6th January, 2004.


"This is a kind of news that gladdens our hearts and we hope that the Code of Conduct Tribunal will pursue the case to a logical conclusion.


"We are also waiting to hear from those bread and butter groups to make the kind of noise that they used to make whenever a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member is on trial for alleged corruption.


"We want to read editorials in the newspapers against Tinubu as it was done against people like Chief Bode George; former Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; former Delta State governor, Chies James Ibori; among others," the group said.


While calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to also clear the air on the allegations of corruption against Tinubu, which its former chairman, Ribadu, said the commission investigated and that it had 'international dimension.'


SRLN asked; "has the international dimension of the case ended with Tinubu and Ribadu holding hands at campaign rallies?"


In a similar vein, the Justice For All Nations (JFAN), a US-based NGO, called for the trial of Tinubu for perjury, just as it commended the will to start his trial for illegal operation of foreign accounts.


The group noted that since Tinubu lied on oath to the Code of Conduct Bureau on the accounts, he ought to face the music separately.


"Most importantly too, the EFCC must tell Nigerians what has happened to the case against Tinubu, which its former chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, said had international dimension," the group said.


In the statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr. Dada Popoola, the group charged President Goodluck Jonathan to demonstrate to Nigerians that he had the will to tackle corruption, saying, "we are happy that the Code of Conduct Tribunal has woken up to its responsibilities and we urge that this case be diligently prosecuted.


"It is also hoped that the EFCC will tell Nigerians where Tinubu's corruption case files are being kept.


"At least, we are aware that Ribadu said publicly that 'Tinubu's corruption has international dimension and there is no time for the EFCC to tell Nigerians what has happened to that corruption case and its international dimension.


"Tinubu should also be made to face criminal charge for perjury because he lied on oath by refusing to declare the operation of several foreign bank accounts in the assets declaration form CCB-1 he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau on 6th January, 2004."


http://odili.net/news/source/2011/sep/11/610.html

Let justice begin.

Corruption has corrupted everything in Nigeria.