$460,000 Forfeiture: No Hiding Place For Tinubu, APC – PDP Vows

• Considers legal action against APC candidate’s eligibility
• Insists hiding sordid past from public debates

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insists half-truths and spirited media denials will not save the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu from answering for his dodgy past in the court of law.

This is as the main opposition party hinted about approaching the court to determine if Tinubu’s participation in the 2023 poll will not violate the Constitution and Electoral Act following the recent receipt of a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the order to forfeit $460,000 imposed by a United States court on the account linked to the APC flag bearer.

Additionally, the PDP said rather than the current circus, “What Nigerians expect of Asiwaju Tinubu at this moment is to withdraw from the Presidential race and apologize to the nation. The APC must come to terms it is not in the Presidential race and that it has no legitimate candidate at all levels in the 2023 general elections as pronounced by the Federal High Court.”

According to the PDP; “It is no longer news that the Presidential Candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is irredeemably and hopelessly ineligible to contest the February 2023 Presidential election having been reportedly indicted and subjected to criminal forfeiture judgment for a narcotic related offence by a United States Court in Northern Illinois.

“Nigerians are however appalled by the lame attempt by the APC Presidential Campaign which, after admitting that there was a $460,000 drug money criminal forfeiture judgment against accounts traced to the APC Presidential Candidate, is now desperately trying to pull a wool over the eyes of the Nigerians people and our democratic institutions.

National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Debo Ologunagba, told a press conference on in Abuja on Sunday that the Party is keeping its options open on the case, saying; “We are very hopeful. What we decide to do as a party, we don’t consult you, we don’t tell you. When we started the case against Osun, we didn’t tell you, right?”

Ologunagba, who fielded questions on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s distancing itself from the Chicago Court case said; “So, we will look at the issue and take decisions and actions based on the exigencies of the times, the requirement, and the need to protect our constitution and our electoral process. So, you leave that us.”

According to the PDP Spokesman; “Every option is on the table. And so, I will leave it like that”, even as he debunked insinuations that a court in the United States is not of competent jurisdiction.

He said countries are encouraged to domesticate international conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory, and such has led to local laws, including the one money laundering.

Though not clear if the PDP will be heading to court should INEC fail to act on the case, Ologunagba said; “Trafficking in narcotics is one such. That’s why we have the NDLEA and other agencies of government to enforce that because they have been domesticated, they are international conventions.

“Those crimes are described as international crimes to which every member state of the United Nations is a signatory and they are obligated to be like.

“And our constitution is also clear about that. It talks about the court or tribunal in Nigeria and it says ‘by any court or any other court’ which by my interpretation and by extension of this constitution, is any other court that is consistent with those international conventions and international crimes.”

Further reading from the Court proceedings to support the position that the judgment suggests an indictment on the APC candidate, the PDP National Publicity Scribe said; “We will study it and any appropriate action that needs to be taken, it will be taken. Like I said to you, every option is on the table”.

Also accusing the ruling party of underhand tactics ahead of the 2023 polls, Ologunagba said; “Seeing that it is technically out of the Presidential contest and further distraught because it cannot also field candidates at all levels in the 2023 general elections due to its illegal and unconstitutional congresses, the APC has resorted to unleashing hoodlums to attack PDP Presidential Campaign rallies and other innocent Nigerians going about their legitimate endeavors as witnessed in Kaduna and Borno States, in a bid to trigger a crisis and scuttle the elections.

“There are already apprehensions in the public space of unrefuted allegations that the APC is behind the orchestrated attacks on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in Ogun and Osun States.

“The plan of the APC is to instill fear in the citizenry, disorganize and weaken other political parties, frighten, hamstring, and immobilize INEC from conducting the 2023 general elections.

“The APC must note that its schemes, denials, threats, and resort to violence cannot help Asiwaju Tinubu. By the provision of Section 137 (1) (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) Asiwaju Tinubu is not eligible to contest the Presidential election in Nigeria.

“Section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that:(1) A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if: (d) He is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or for any other offence, imposed on him by ANY COURT or tribunal or substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such a court or tribunal.”

Amplifying its position that the APC has a huge burden projecting Tinunbu’s candidacy, the PDP further stated thus; “For clarity, forfeiture means ‘something to which the right is lost as for commission of a crime or misdeed, neglect of duty, or violation of a contract.

“It is instructive to note that trafficking in narcotics is an international crime to which all nations are obliged and mandated to apprehend, prosecute and enforce any judgment or Court Order imposed on the offender. Nigeria as a signatory to the international convention on trafficking in narcotics is obliged to enforce any Order or judgment imposed on any offender by a competent court ANYWHERE in the world.”

“For emphasis, the US Court “Ordered that the funds in the amount of $460,000 in account 263226700 held by First Heritage Bank in the name of Bola Tinubu represent proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in financial transactions in violation of 18 U.S.C. S1956 and 1957 and therefore these funds are forfeited to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. S881(a)(6) and 18 U.S.C S981″

Citing provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended, the PDP image maker said; “Having been sentenced and fined by way of criminal forfeiture of $460,000 drug money in a criminal suit filed pursuant to the United States Criminal Code, Asiwaju Tinubu cannot by virtue of Section 137 (1)(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) seek office as President of Nigeria.”

On the ruling party’s antagonistic attitude towards public debates, the opposition party said; “Nigerians now know that the APC Presidential Campaign announcement that its Presidential Candidate will not participate in media debates is to prevent Nigerians from seeking answers from Asiwaju Tinubu with respect to the criminal forfeiture judgment as well as other burning issues to which Nigerians are entitled to know.

“Of course, our nation cannot afford the embarrassment, shame, national indignity, and stigma associated with narcotics all over the world, especially in the exalted office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Nigeria cannot handle the massive negative collateral damage such will have on our national image, the economy as well as on the businesses and legitimate endeavors of hardworking Nigerians.”

“What Nigerians expect of Asiwaju Tinubu at this moment is to withdraw from the Presidential race and apologize to the nation. The APC must come to terms that it is not in the Presidential race and that it has

On the Federal High Court pronouncement that the APC has no legitimate candidate at all levels in the 2023 general elections, the PDP reminded Nigerians that any vote for the APC at the Presidential, Governorship, National, and State Assembly elections are wasted votes that will not count at the end of the day.

It also urged INEC to ignore the APC’s blackmail, maintain focus and carry out its duties in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act in order to engender confidence in the citizens with respect to the integrity of those seeking public office in our country.