Rearrest And Prosecute Tinubu- PDP Charges CCB; Chides Buhari Over Silence
The lagos state chapter of PDP has charged the Code of Conduct Bureau to immediately re arrest and prosecute Bola Tinubu, former governor of lagos state and APC National leader.
This is just as the Party has also accused the president of manifesting selective fight and prosecution in his anti corruption crusade.
The Party’s call is consequent upon the disclosure by the CCB lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) that the former governor, Tinubu, was erroneously discharged by the CCT in the Trial of holding 10 foreign accounts contrary to section 7 of the CCB & Tribunal Act, Cap 15 LFN, 2004 as amended.
The learned SAN made the disclosure in his opposition to the application by Senate President, Saraki, that he be discharged. The Lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) described Tinubu’s discharge as wrong and that the tribunal was misled into discharging the former governor.Lawyer to Saraki, Kanu Agabi (SAN) applied for Saraki’s discharge on the basis that he was also not invited before he was charged by the CCB, which is similar to Tinubu’s fact of case. They wondered why Tinubu was discharged whereas Saraki continues to be prosecuted even when the surrounding facts are similar.
“We demand the immediate invitation, arrest and prosecution of Tinubu for violating the laws of the land and breaching public trust by operating several foreign accounts during his tenure as lagos state governor between 1999 and 2007. During these period, the state did not witness meaningful developments commensurate to its internally generated revenues and federal government allocations. We strongly believe that those foreign accounts were used to steal Lagos funds. It still amazes us how a Tinubu, well known before he became lagos state governor, is now the undoubtedly wealthiest and ‘influential’ personality out of politics in the country. The code of conduct tribunal erroneously discharged but that does not remove the fact that the offence was committed. Now that the facts of Tinubu’s erroneous discharge are in the public glare and in the spirit of the hyped anti corruption crusade, president Buhari ought to take a stance and speak out on the proprietary of Tinubu walking free while Saraki, Dasuki, Kanu, are being prosecuted with vigour. Alas! Rather, the president and other APC leaders chose to adopt and celebrate a betrayer of public service. The President particularly recently directed the grounding of the Capital city to celebrate Tinubu’s birthday. An unequivocal declaration of loyalty to Tinubu who no doubt bankrolled the president’s election. No doubt that president Buhari is only mouthing anti corruption and cannot summon the gut to prosecute APC leaders.
The erroneous discharge of Tinubu must be appealed against. Alternatively, Tinubu should be invited, interrogated and prosecuted. He was discharged and not acquitted and there is no time limitation for criminal trial.
TAOFIK GANI
Lagos PDP
