The Federal Government, yesterday filed additional charges former governor of Lagos state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allegedly operating foreign accounts during his eight-year tenure from 1999-2007, in breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
The prosecutor, Alex Izinyon , informed the tribunal that he has motion seeking to amend the earlier one count charges filed against Tinubu on March 22,to be replaced with a fresh three count charge. He said the charge dated March 22 would now be substituted with the motion dated 19 September but filed on 2Oth of Sepember.
Wole Olanipekun who led many Senior Advocates of Nigeria and other lawyers, representing Mr. Tinubu, did not object to amendment of the charges, but said he has a preliminary objection as regards the competence of charges and the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try the former governor.
He told the tribunal that the court process that was to be served on his client was only dropped somewhere, but that as a law abiding citizen and a respecter of law he had decided to appear before the tribunal when he learnt about the summon.
Mr. Izinyon agreed that personal service is necessary in a criminal matter like this pointing out that seeing Tinubu in person is difficult.
After, moving motion for the amended charges, Izinyon, said the charges be read to Mr. Tinubu who is in the dock to take his plea.
But, Mr. Olanipekun objected to the former governor's taking his plea saying that an accused person cannot take a plea on what he has not seen, stressing that the amended charges was only served on them that day at the Tribunal.
Chairman of the tribunal Mohammed Umar, adjourned the matter to October 26 for arraignment of Mr. Tinubu.
Count 1 of the charge read:, "that you Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state being a public officer as listed in part ii of the fifth shedule to the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and having subscribed to the Oath of Office between 1999-2000 and while in office as such engaged yourself in the operation of several foreign accounts namely First Heritage Bank, Country Club Hills, Illinois, USA, Account Name; Bola Tinubu, Account Number; 263226700, Citibank NA New York, USA, Account Name; Bola Tinubu and Compass Finance and Investment Ltd------- 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 of the charge is similar to Count 1 . But count 1 refers to operation of foreign accounts while count 2 relates to Tinubu maintaining foreign accounts.
On the other hand, Count 3 said between 1999-2007 Tinubu "misinformed Code of Conduct Bureau by stating in form CCB 1 that you do not have foreign account 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 shedule to the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Some personalities at the tribunal include Prof. Yomi Osibajo( former AG, Lagos, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state, Olorunimbe Mamora, Abike Dabiri, Tunji Abayomi, Other SANs who appeared with Mr. Olanipekun are Rotimi Akerdolu, Dele Belgore, Niyi Akintola Yomi Osibanjo, Kabiru Turaki, Ifedayo Adedipe, Deji Sasgban, Dele Adesina
Also prominent lawyers like Femi Falana, and Tunji Abayomi also came to the court.
The tribunal gave the defense counsel 14 to file and serve their preliminary objection while the prosecution was given five days to reply on points of law.
Meanwhile all roads leading to the tribunal was conde off by hevliy ard Police men and men of the State Security Services (SSS).
The former charge listed the accounts in the names of Tinubu, his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; his daughters, Habibat and Zainab; and a firm, Compass Finance and Investment Company Limited.
A seven-paragraph affidavit in support of the charge was deposed to by a deputy director in the CCB, Ikechi Iwuagwu.
The foreign accounts and the banks are:
1. Name of Bank: First Heritage Bank, Country Club Hills, Illinois, USA.
Account Name: Bola Tinubu
Account No: 263226700.
2. 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.
3. Name of Bank: Citibank International New-York
Account Name- Bola Tinubu
Account No- 52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953
4. Name of Bank- HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London, WIW 6QJ.
Account Name- Sen. Bola Tinubu
Account No- 71253670
SORT Code- 40-03-15
5. 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
6. Name of Bank- HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street, London, WIW 6OJ.
Account Name-Sen. Bola Tinubu
Money Market Account No-04320002DN.
7. Name of Bank- HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London, WIW 6OJ.
Account - Tinubu Habitat Oyindamola (Miss)
Account No. - 1320960111
8. Name of Bank - HSBC 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 60J
Account Name- Tinubu Zainab Abisola (Miss)
Account No. - 172447101
9. Name of Bank - HSBC 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 60J
Account Name- Tinubu Oluremi Shade
Account No. - 1916667988
10. Name of Bank - HSBC 177 Great Portland Street London
WIW 60J
Account Name- Oluremi Shade Tinubu
Account No. - 41421522.
In the affidavit, the CCB stated that on March 4, 2003, towards the end of his first term, an asset declaration form CCB-1 was sent to Tinubu, in his capacity ‘as a public officer‘.
"That 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‘;
"That all the assets declared by the accused person are as indicated in the assets declaration from CCB-1.
"That 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-1submitted by the accused person marked as Exhibit A.
"That 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."
Source:234 Next
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