On Monday morning, the Nigerian social media and internet were abuzz following a post by Uber Facts, a facts-promoting platform.

The social media update was related to the legal battles of Bola Tinubu, the country’s president-elect, with the U.S. authorities. POLITICS NIGERIA learnt Tinubu reportedly forfeited $460,000 gains from cocaine deals to the American government in 1993.

This revelation, which came as no surprise to many, has been a hot topic in the Nigerian political scene for some time.

The issue of Tinubu’s alleged involvement in the cocaine trade has become a recurring topic of conversation, with the opposition expressing their displeasure at the negative attention it has brought to the country.

To this end, POLITICS NIGERIA presents a comprehensive breakdown of the case made in the United States that has been causing a stir across Nigeria.

The case got many people’s attention in late 2022, as the 2023 presidential election drew closer. This was when analysts began to investigate the backgrounds of the major candidates, including Tinubu, a candidate and the eventual victor in the election.

During the campaigns, a certified copy of the decades-old case resurfaced, bringing the issue to national attention.

According to the documents, on January 10, 1992, Magistrate Judge Rosemond of the Northern District of Illinois ordered the seizure of funds from 10 bank accounts belonging to Tinubu. The U.S. government suspected that these accounts were connected to drug-related activities.

The accounts in question were opened at First Heritage Bank and Citi Bank in Chicago during the late 1980s to early 1990s.

“On January 10, 1992, applications for seizure warrants were presented to Magistrate Judge Rosemond of the Northern District of Illinois. After considering the applications and the attached affidavits, Magistrate Judge Rosemond issued seizure warrants for accounts at First Heritage Bank and Citibank in the name of Bola Tinubu. The amount Of money seized from these accounts exceeded 1.4 million dollars,” it read.

According to an affidavit filed by Kevin Moss, a special agent with the US Internal Revenue Service, Nigerian politician, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had a connection to two suspected drug kingpins in Chicago. Moss claimed that Tinubu shared a home address with one of the kingpins, Adegboyega Mueez Akande, and that Tinubu’s wife, Oluremi Tinubu, had a joint account with Akande’s wife, Audrey.

Moss also raised concerns about the amount of money flowing into Tinubu’s account, compared to his income as a staff member of Mobil.

“According to bank records, Bola Tinubu also opened a joint checking account in his name and the name of his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, Oluremi Tinubu previously opened a joint bank account also at this bank with Audrey Akande, the wife of Adegboyega Mueez Akande,” he said.

“According to records from Citibank International, there were two additional corporate accounts held in the name of Compass Finance and Investment Company, Ltd. which were controlled by Bola Tinubu.

“The bank records from these accounts in the international division disclosed that when Bola Tinubu opened these accounts at Citibank, International, he provided certain corporate documents from Compass Finance and Investment Company Ltd. including documents identified as a memorandum of association and articles of association. Both corporate documents identified Mueez Adegboyega Akande and Abiodun Olasuyi Abele as directors of Compass Finance and Investment Company, Limited.

“Representatives from Mobil Oil were interviewed regarding Tinubu’s employment status. The representatives confirmed that Tinubu was employed by Mobil Oil Nigeria Ltd. as a treasurer. This position, however, does not involve the transfer of large amounts of money between banking institutions.

“Mobil Oil representatives stated that under no circumstances would Tinubu be permitted to retain money belonging to Mobil Oil in accounts bearing Tinubu’s name. Finally, Mobil Oil confirmed that the corporation never had any accounts in banks in the southern suburbs of Chicago,” he stated.

However, as it turned out, the US government later settled with Tinubu and his associates, including KO Tinubu and Alhaji Mogati, in August 1993. As part of the settlement, the government agreed to release some of the funds, but $460,000 was to be forfeited.

“The parties agree that the funds held by Citibank shall be released to K.O. Tinubu and the action filed against these funds held in the accounts by Citibank shall be dismissed with prejudice.

“The parties further agree that $460,000 from the defendant account held by Heritage Bank in the name of Bola Tinubu shall be forfeited by the United States and disposed of according to law. The funds remaining in the account shall be released to K. O. Tinubu,” a part of the terms of the agreement read.

Reports on alleged association with Chicago drug kingpins began in 2003

The controversy surrounding Tinubu’s alleged links to drug kingpins in Chicago first emerged in 2003, when he was campaigning for re-election as governor of Lagos State. However, the matter was seemingly put to rest by a letter from the US consulate to the then Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun.

The letter, dated February 4, 2003, and signed by the Legal Attache to the US consulate, Michael Bonner, stated that Tinubu had no criminal record of indictment or prosecution.

Bonner clarified that Tinubu was never charged with any drug offence, the case did not go to trial, he was never convicted, and he was never barred from entering the US.

It stated: “The FBI never charged Tinubu with any drug offence; the case did not go on trial. Tinubu was never convicted. And he was never barred from entering the US.”

“In relation to your letter dated February 3, 2003, reference number SR. 3000/IGPSEC/ABJ/VOL. 24/287, regarding Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a record check of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Crime Information Center (NCIC) was conducted.

“The results of the checks were negative for any criminal arrest records, wants, or warrants for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (DOB 29 March, 1952). For information of your department, NCIC is a centralized information centre that maintains the records of every criminal arrest and conviction within the United States and its territories,” it reads in part.

A “mere tax payment” — Tinubu’s spokesman had defended

The spokesperson for the APC presidential campaign council, Festus Keyamo, however, put a different spin on allegations of links and forfeiture involving his party’s then-presidential candidate.

During an appearance on Channels TV in November 2022, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria claimed that the $460,000 in question was actually a tax charged on funds held in banks.

However, this claim is not supported by the court documents, which do not refer to the forfeited sum being a tax.

“An indictment is different from conviction”

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has used the allegations of cocaine links and forfeiture to challenge Tinubu’s victory in court. The outcome of this legal challenge is still uncertain.

However, an Abuja-based criminal litigation lawyer, Bar. Fatihu AbdulRaheem, in 2022 had suggested that the case is more of an indictment than a conviction, meaning that Obi’s prayers for Tinubu’s sacking may not be granted in court.

AbdulRaheem cited the case of Umana vs. Attah (2004), in which the court ruled that an indictment is not evidence of an offence having been committed.

He said: “Technically speaking, an indictment is merely a charge or information. It is only when it is accepted by the court that the prosecution will be called upon to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“Conviction has been simply defined by the court in Mohammed V Olawunmi (1990) as a finding of guilt and a sentence

“Therefore, under our criminal jurisprudence, conviction and indictment are distinguishable both in substance and nomenclature.

“Even in the United State when a person is indicted, it only means they will be given formal notice that they are believed to have committed a crime and therefrom, an explanation will be required by way of defence.”

It is worth concluding that Tinubu, who is a prominent Nigerian politician has not been convicted of any crimes related to this case or any other case involving drug trafficking, as of the moment this publication was made.

https://politicsnigeria.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-tinubus-alleged-460k-forfeiture-over-cocaine-links/

The pain is real for Kamaru my Yoruba Muslim friend.

Polish a druggie all you like, he’s still an escoBAT.

A Drug Baron will never rule Nigeria, not even for a second.

Anyone with some ability to reason will easily come to terms with the fact that Obi and his co-travelers have NO CASE in this matter.

BAT was never tried, never convicted, and never indicted. No records of that, at least.

Next?

They are running helter and skelter.

Tinubu is a DRUG DADDY. Your only point here is that he was not convicted. It didn't rule out his involvement in drug trafficking.

You even made it worst by posting this. This is my first time of knowing that Tinubu and his wife had a joint account with a drug dealer's wife.


US Internal Revenue Service, Nigerian politician, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had a connection to two suspected drug
kingpins in Chicago. Moss claimed that Tinubu shared a home address with one of the kingpins, Adegboyega
Mueez Akande, and that Tinubu’s wife, Oluremi Tinubu, had a joint account with Akande’s wife, Audrey.


“According to bank records, Bola Tinubu also opened a joint checking account in his name and the name of
his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, Oluremi Tinubu previously opened a joint bank account also at this bank with Audrey Akande, the wife of Adegboyega Mueez Akande,” he said.

So Tinubu's wife was an accomplice too? Seems it is drug family business.


If they are innocent, why did they allow 460,000 dollars to be seized? Why didn't they sue US government?

No be this particular tinubu do that thing. E fit be anoda tinubu

PassingShot:
Anyone with some ability to reason will easily come to terms with the fact that Obi and his co-travelers have NO CASE in this matter.

BAT was never tried, never convicted, and never indicted. No records of that, at least.

Next?

Please leave them to entertain us while we prepare for May 29 . I have never seen an entitled third position as this boy called Obi

There is a David Hundeyin...

So spare yourself the headache....

alsudan:
The pain is real for Kamaru my Yoruba Muslim friend.

Polish a druggie all you like, he’s still an escoBAT.

A Drug Baron will never rule Nigeria, not even for a second.

Come may 29th we hope to see the news of your demise so you wont have to witness his presidency

Please let them waste another 8 years of their miserable life...uberfact is their lord and savior now.. Confused fools

alsudan:
[/s]The pain is real for Kamaru my Yoruba Muslim friend.

Polish a druggie all you like, he’s still an escoBAT.

A Drug Baron will never rule Nigeria, not even for a second.[/s]

When he is sworn in, go and remove him and put Pet Obi there.

These eeeediots Sabi defend their oppresors. A hardened drug criminal been defended by a jobless youth. Imagine!!!!

Imagine

See person wey win election, this country na wash

With his past criminal record and the mayhem his boys caused in the last election, no one filed a petition to even challenge him.

Na only revolution fit help this country
I hope OBIDIENTS are ready for this.

PassingShot:


When he is sworn in, go and remove him and put Pet Obi there.

That's if he even get sworn in sef

PassingShot:
Anyone with some ability to reason will easily come to terms with the fact that Obi and his co-travelers have NO CASE in this matter.

BAT was never tried, never convicted, and never indicted. No records of that, at least.

Next?

Wow, so this is the passingshot I used to sit down, learn and respect in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, how things can change.

Bro I really used to respect you in the past based on your analysis and explanations also with Barcanista then, but these days I keep asking myself what happened.

One thing I've learnt so far from this election period is " if the support for your tribe or political party overrides your will to do good then you are doing the wrong thing"

Well that is topic for another day, I will try and be brief with this case and stick to it only. These are the major issues with the case:

1. You claimed Tinubu only registered investment companies and the companies were jointly registered with the 2 drug guys and monies were flowing into the accounts which Tinubu's salary could not support such amounts and his company(mobil) also denied any involvement, that in itself is suspicious, what you also failed to tell us was the fact that the other 2 drug barons were arrested and it was in their confession that Tinubu's investigation started, Tinubu was already in Nigeria, so there was no way to get him arrested.


2. You claimed Tinubu was only paying for tax he did not remit, let me tell you plain and clear, that is a crime in itself, I have seen someone in the U.S sentenced to 45 years in prison for tax evasion, so if Tinubu did not pay his tax and he was fined 460,000$ to do that, then that is punishment for a crime of not paying tax.

3. You claimed the case was settled, yes it was settled but without a forfeiture the case will never have been settled, so whichever way you want to go around it, whether you claim it was drugs or tax non-remittance, Tinubu committed a crime and that was why he forfeited that money, the current CJN of Nigeria stated the same in his judgement against Abacha's son. Let me ask you, if your bank freezes more than 500 million naira of your money and have no evidence to claim the money was illegal, would you leave it for them? Even Dangote will not want to forfeit such an amount without evidence...

4. Now the major problem - You might say well it is over 10 years and the law states that anyone can contest once the crime of over 10 years has been cleared, from the information I have Tinubu lied when filling his INEC nomination form, he claimed not to have any past criminal record, that is falsification which is automatic disqualification.

He will have to prove those documents to be fake or make the current CJN who passed a judgment on the same forfeiture look like a joker to his profession and the judicial world.

IyaebeTheGreat:
Please leave them to entertain us while we prepare for May 29 . I have never seen an entitled third position as this boy called Obi

Coming from a silly girl.

RamseyKush:



That's if he even get sworn in sef

You guys said more than this before the election naa.

And we are already here.

MasterJayJay:
They are running helter and skelter.

Tinubu is a DRUG DADDY. Your only point here is that he was not convicted. It didn't rule out his involvement in drug trafficking.

You even made it worst by posting this. This is my first time of knowing that Tinubu and his wife had a joint account with a drug dealer's wife.


US Internal Revenue Service, Nigerian politician, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had a connection to two suspected drug
kingpins in Chicago. Moss claimed that Tinubu shared a home address with one of the kingpins, Adegboyega
Mueez Akande, and that Tinubu’s wife, Oluremi Tinubu, had a joint account with Akande’s wife, Audrey.


“According to bank records, Bola Tinubu also opened a joint checking account in his name and the name of
his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, Oluremi Tinubu previously opened a joint bank account also at this bank with Audrey Akande, the wife of Adegboyega Mueez Akande,” he said.

So Tinubu's wife was an accomplice too? Seems it is drug family business.


If they are innocent, why did they allow 460,000 dollars to be seized? Why didn't they sue US government?

Go and prove your case in court.

Allardyce:
oh, so this is your alternate account? A violation of rule number 19.

What's this one saying? You should be on a permanent ban if the moderators ain't sleeping. Who really cares about the useless ban .

Allardyce:
oh, so this is your alternate account? A violation of rule number 19.

Go to court. You can use the incompetent moderators and seun as your lawyers.

Esortigress:
What's this one saying? You should be on a permanent ban if the moderators ain't sleeping. Who really cares about the useless ban .

I warned you to behave yourself, but you were busy calling someone who doesn't support your candidate an "Idiot"
Na you cause am

Esortigress:
Do not waste your time, I have limited time to spend on this forum. Obviously the moderators and seun ain't as competent else you'll be on a permanent ban.

You have limited time to spend here but when you see Peter Obi slander, you have all the time in the world. Barely 2days you returned from ban, you are already all over the forum calling someone an "idiot" Enjoy your ban in peace.

Allardyce:
I warned you to behave yourself, but you were busy calling someone who doesn't support your candidate an "Idiot"
Na you cause am

You didn't see where he called me fool and I returned the favour when the incompetent moderators and seun refused to do their job? I'm only responding to you here because I really don't care. I don't keep Monika's for long and I have busy schedules ahead of me. So keep yourself busy while at it

Allardyce:
You have limited time to spend here but when you see Peter Obi slander, you have all the time in the world. Enjoy your ban in peace.

If you had brains you'll know I don't keep Monika's for long , keep up with your rubbish

Esortigress:
If you had brains you'll know I don't keep Monika's for long , keep up with your rubbish

You that have brains should stop crying and deactivate your monika 🤣

Esortigress:
You didn't see where he called me fool and I returned the favour when the incompetent moderators and seun refused to do their job? I'm only responding to you here because I really don't care. I don't keep Monika's for long and I have busy schedules ahead of me. So keep yourself busy while at it

Sister Bernard the busy schedule.
But once you see a post condemning Peter Obi, you come out of your busy schedule to talk nonsense.