Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

From Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

The Code of Conduct Tribunal has summoned former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to appear before it on Wednesday, September 21, for alleged breach of the code of conduct for public officers, signaling a commencement of his trial for allegedly operating 10 foreign account while in office.
Tinubu was Lagos State governor from 1999 to 2007.
A director at the tribunal, Abdulazeez Badisha, confirmed the development to THISDAY in Abuja.
The former governor confirmed the summons last night through his Chief Press Secretary, Olakunle Abimbola, saying, “after years of threats, political mudslinging and media trial on the impending allegations, a formal invitation to commence trial has finally come, which he welcomes”.
According to the CCT official, Tinubu is facing trial for allegedly operating several foreign bank accounts contrary to Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap 56 Laws of the Federation, 1990. The offence is punishable under Section 23(2) of the same Act.
Tinubu was first charged before the tribunal on 24th April, 2007. The trial was, however, stalled for seeming lack of political will to prosecute the former governor on the part of the tribunal.
Some had also viewed his prosecution then as an attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled Federal Govern-ment to silence opposition forces.
Tinubu, the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, has repeatedly denied any wrong doing in office.
The former governor is accused of operating 10 different foreign accounts while in office as governor contrary to Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap 56 Laws of the Federation, 1990 and punishable under Section 23 (2) thereof as incorporated under paragraph 18, part I of the 5th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution.
He was said to have failed to declare the foreign bank accounts in the assets declaration form CCB-1 which he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau when he was elected governor.
A deputy director at the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mrs. Ikechi Iwuagwu, deposed to an affidavit to the effect that the former governor failed to disclose the foreign accounts for which he was charged before the tribunal.
The foreign bank accounts allegedly operated by Tinubu as contained in the charge sheet are as follows: (1) First Heritage Bank, Country Club Hills, Illinois, USA with Account Number 263226700.

•Citibank NA New York, USA operated in the name of Bola Tinubu and Compass Finance and Investment Company Ltd with Account Nos- 39483134, 39483396 and 4650279566.
•Citibank Internati-onal New York. Account No. 52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953.
•HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 6QJ. Account Number 71253670 SORT Code 40-03-15.
•HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 6QJ with account name as Bola Oluremi Tinubu.
•HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 60J. Account Number 04320002DN.
•HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 60J. Account Name: Tinubu Habibat Oyindamola (Miss). Account No-1320960111
•HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 60J. Account No- 172447101. Account Name Tinubu Zainab Abisola (Miss).
•HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 60J. Account No- 1916667988. Account Name Tinubu Oluremi Shade.
•HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW 60J. Account No- 41421522. Account Name- Oluremi Shade Tinubu.
Confirming that he received the summon, Tinubu said in a statement by Abimbola that: “The summons was signed by the chairman of the Bureau.  It was dated 6 September, 2011.
“The summons alleged the contravention of Code of Conduct for public officers, whilst Asiwaju Tinubu was governor of Lagos State, by operating several foreign bank accounts, between 1999 and 2007, in alleged contravention of Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap 56 LFN, 1990.
“The Bureau in the service invited Asiwaju Tinubu to appear before it, in Abuja, on Wednesday, 21 September 2011 at 10 am.

Asiwaju Tinubu wishes to state that after years of threats, political mudslinging and media trial on the impending allegations, a formal invitation to commence trial has finally come, which he welcomes. 
“He said that as a law abiding citizen, when he was informed that the summons had arrived, he directed his staff to duly accept it; and not evade service.  This is in conformity with his profound respect for the rule of law.

He wishes to state that as the battle now shifts to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, those who allege must prove. He also welcomes the opportunity to put an end to years of insinuations, unproven allegations and politically orchestrated persecution.   
“The National Leader of the ACN calls on everyone to keep calm but be vigilant, while the Nigerian judiciary do justice in this matter.”

Posted by admin on Sep 10 2011. Filed under Lagos, Latest Politics, State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry