‘Tinubu has no criminal record in U.S,’ as PEPT dismisses $460,000 forfeiture American court ruling
Despite having a $460,000 forfeiture ruling slammed on him by a United States District Court, in the Northern District of Illinois, in 1993, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT, Wednesday, ruled that President Bola Tinubu has no criminal case or record barring him from contesting or being declared winner of the February 25, 2023 election.
Petitioners; Mr Peter Obi and Labour Party had challenged Tinubu legitimacy after providing documents which were tendered and admitted as court exhibits detailing the American court’s ruling which slammed a $460,000 forfeiture and further seizure of his property in the country over xdrug and money laundering offences.
In 1993, Bola Tinubu was a defendant in a case in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, civil docket for case Number 1:93-cv-04483.
The case involved drug related seizure of property. Bola Tinubu entered a settlement with the United States government.
However, continuing, in its judgement delivery, Wednesday, the PEPT panel of judges concluded that the petitioner, Obi and Labour Party failed to prove that Tinubu was convicted by the United States court.
The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led court also ruled that no record of criminal arrest or conviction was established against Tinubu by the petitioners.
The Tribunal said the petitioners failed to prove that the allegation at the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division where the forfeiture occurred was a criminal case.
Justice Tsammani ruled that Tinubu was not convicted of any crime or any criminal activity and no sentence of imprisonment or fine was imposed on him.
He said according to Section 137 of the constitution, Tinubu is not disqualified from contesting the presidential poll.
Justice Tsammani said that according to the Nigerian constitution, a certificate from United States authorities is not required to enforce a foreign court’s judgement.
The court also noted that Tinubu’s legal team had presented a letter from the United States embassy confirming his lack of criminal record in the US, which the PEPT’s Justice Tsammani cited as evidence.
Justice Tsammani ruled that according to the Nigerian constitution, a certificate from US authorities is not required to enforce a foreign court’s judgement.
