An old judgment document resurfaced in the media on Tuesday, alleging that the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, indicted Tinubu of drug trafficking and money laundering.
The judgement also held that it has taken possession of Tinubu’s money over his involvement in the crime.
Festus Keyamo, SAN, spokesperson for Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, insisted the document alleging his boss’ involvement in the crime was a sign of frustration by the opposition.
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He said:
“Sign of frustration: They are seeking to wake a horse long dead and buried and for which a media house publicly apologised in 2016 when they tried to use the story.”
An investigative journalist, David Hundeyin had in July released an article titled, “Bola Ahmed Tinubu: From Drug Lord To Presidential Candidate”, espousing the allegation.
Also, in the twilight of the 2015 elections, the same allegation surfaced in the media.
Meanwhile, the allegation has continued to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media.
@’Fisayo Soyombo:
“The ignominy that a Bola Tinubu presidency will land Nigeria will be unprecedented.
“Imagine being lost in Democracy or Independence Day celebrations, & a US court suddenly releases fresh evidence of your president’s past dealings.”
@Ahmed Salami:
“A document dated October 9th, 1993 is what a journalist in Nigeria tagged as a fresh “leaked document”. Don’tforget; no mainstream had posted this baseless paper because those who tried it before were begging for an out-of-court settlement.”
The judgement was said to have been docketed on July 26, 1993, and certified by Thomas O. Burton, the clerk of the court, who indicted Tinubu for heroin trafficking in the state of Illinois through a proxy organisation owned by Adegboyega Mueez Akande and subsequently forfeited the proceeds of the crime to the U.S. government.
The funds, which were held by First Heritage Bank and Citibank in trust for Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), were forfeited to the U.S. government for being proceeds of drug-related offences.
Details from the now-circulated court papers show that Michael J. Shepard, the attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said in 1993 that the court has jurisdiction over the case brought to it by special agent Kevin Moss.
According to the document, the monies held in those forfeited accounts were proceeds from white heroin drug operations operated by Aknade and his partners.
Akande had a strong and well-connected narcotics business, whose proceeds were substantial and kept in the forfeited bank accounts, the document shows.
The affidavit revealed that the defendant’s—Tinubu funds—represented a substantial part of the proceeds from this operation or property involved in money laundering.
It was gathered that Judge Michael believes based on indisputable evidence that the funds belonging to Tinubu stashed in his Citibank and First Heritage Bank accounts were proceeds from Akande and other narcotraffickers’ heroin operations.
The judge concluded that the proceeds be forfeited to the US government.
However, Keyamo said those making the claims were chasing a lost battle.
