Three count Charge against Tinubu

Lagos State Former Governor and leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, was yesterday docked before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja FCT, on allegations that he operated 10 foreign accounts while in office between 1999 and 2007. the charges against him are stated below.

Count 1

That you Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State being a public officer as listed in part II of the fifth schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and having subscribed to the Oath of office as contained in the fifth schedule to the 1999 Constitution on assumption of office between 1999 – 2000 and while in office as such engaged yourself in the operation of several foreign bank accounts namely.

I. Name of Bank – First Heritage Bank Country Club Hills, Illinois, USA
Account Name – Bola Tinubu, Account Number 263226700
II. Name of Bank – Citibank NA New York, USA.

Account Name – Bola Tinubu & Compass Finance and Investment Company Ltd. Account Number, 39483134, 39483396, 4650279566, 00400220, 39936404, 39936383.
III. Name of Bank – Citibank International New York Account Name Bola Tinubu, Account Number 52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953

IV.Bank– HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name, Bola Tinubu, Account Number 71253670 Sort Code 40-03-15.
V. Name of Bank – Citibank International New York Account Name Bola Tinubu Account Number 52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953.

IV. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Sen. Bola Tinubu Account Number 71253670 Sort Code 40-03-15
V. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Sen. Bola Tinubu Account Number 71253670 Sort Code 40-03-15
VI. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Sen. Bola Tinubu – Money Market Account Number 04320002DN

VII. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Tinubu Habibat Oyindamola (Miss) Account Number 1320960111

VIII. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Tinubu Zainab Abisola (Miss) Account Number 172447101
XI. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Tinubu Oluremi Shade Account Number 1916667988

X. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Oluremi Shade Tinubu Account Number 41421522

Contrary to section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 LFN, 2004 as amended and punishable under section 23(2) thereof as incorporated under paragraph 18, part 1, fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Count 2
That you Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State being a public officer as listed in the part II of fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and having subscribed to the Oath of Office as contained in the fifth schedule to the 1999 Constitution on assumption of office between 1999 – 2000 and while in office as such engaged yourself and did maintain several foreign bank accounts namely:

I. Name of Bank First Heritage Bank Country Club Hills, Illinois, USA. Account Name Bola Tinubu Account Number: 263226700

ii. Name of Bank – Citibank NA New York, USA. Account Name Bola Tinubu & Compass Finance and investment Company Ltd. Account Number – 39483134, 39483396, 4650279566, 00400220, 39936404 and 39936383
iii. Name of Bank – Citibank International New York Account Name – Bola Tinubu, Account Number – 52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953

iv. Name of Bank – Citibank International New York Account Name Bola Tinubu Account Number 52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953

v. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Sen. Bola Tinubu Account Number 71253670 Sort Code 40-03-15

vi. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Sen. Bola Oluremi Tinubu Account Number 71253670 Sort Code 40-03-15

vii. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Sen. Bola Tinubu – Money Market Account Number 04320002D
viii. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Tinubu Habibat Oyindamola (Miss) Account Number 1320960111.
ix. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Tinubu Zainab Abisola

(Miss) Account Number 172447101.
x. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street, London WIW6QJ. Account Name Tinubu Oluremi Shade Account Number 1916667988

xi. Name of Bank – HSBC 177 Great Portland Street , London WIW6QJ. Account Name – Oluremi Shade Tinubu Account Number – 41421522
Contrary to section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap C15 LFN, 2004 as amended and punishable under section 23(2) thereof as incorporated under paragraph 18, part 1, fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Count 3
That you Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State being a public officer as listed in the part II of fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and having subscribed to the Oath of Office as contained in the fifth schedule to the 1999 Constitution on assumption of office between 1999 – 2007 and while in office as such engaged yourself and did maintain several foreign bank accounts contrary to section 15(2) of the code of conduct Bureau and Tribunal; Act, Cap C15 LFN, 2004 as amended and punishable under paragraph 18, fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( as amended).

Opinion (Mine)

After the proceeding yesterday after which the matter was adjourned till October 26 2011, Tinubu was quoted to have said he was a victim of political witch hunting ,

Governors of Osun and Oyo states, Rauf Aregbesola and Abiola Ajimobi were also quoted to have condemned the trial , saying it is nothing more than a political warfare masterminded by the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP)

This has always been the defence of the typical former or present political office holder accused of any crime or misconduct in Nigeria. The most pertinent question here remains whether Tinubu violated the law or not. Is Tinubu clean?