SSS quizzes Tinubu •Tribunal may begin his trial next week

Posted by admin Raw Politics, Top Stories, Uncategorized Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

OPERATIVES of the Department of the State Security Service (SSS), on Tuesday, quizzed former governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu. According to a high security source, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain was reportedly quizzed at the SSS headquarters, otherwise known as Yellow House, Abuja.

Though no official reason was given by the SSS for the questioning, the Nigerian Tribune learnt that it might not be unconnected with Tinubu’s pending case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, as well as his recent outburst at the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) rally in Ibadan, during which he reportedly called President Goodluck Jonathan a “drunkard.”

It was gathered that Senator Tinubu, who received the SSS invitation on Monday, arrived at its headquarters at exactly 3.15p.m. in Abuja, on Tuesday.

According to our source, he was quizzed over his utterances which the service considered as security “risk” but was later released on self recognisance.

“He (Tinubu) has been making some statements considered unhealthy for peaceful coexistence in recent times. The service deemed it fit to interact with him over such issues,” a source said.

The former governor is also said to have a case file before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Nigerian Tribune learnt that the former governor was left off the hook after the questioning around 4.15p.m.

Efforts to get official confirmation on the questioning of Senator Tinubu from the service were not successful as the telephone lines of SSS spokesperson, Maryln Ogar, an Assistant Director of Public Relations, were defective.

However, a top operative in the service, who wanted anonymity confirmed the questioning, saying it was a normal routine that could be extended to anybody.

Meanwhile, with the swearing in of the new acting chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Yakubu Umar on Tuesday, the stage appears set for the commencement of the prosecution of past and present public officers indicted for alleged violation of the asset declaration law.

Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday, exclusively reported the appointment and swearing-in of Umar by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

The covert swearing in reportedly took place around 10.00 a.m at the Supreme Court, with a handful staff of the Code of Conduct Tribunal present.

Code of Conduct Bureau spokesperson, Mrs Idowu Jokpeyibo, confirmed the swearing-in to the Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday.

It was also gathered on Tuesday night that the Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, had almost concluded arrangement for the appointment of two other members that would be sitting on cases with the acting chairman.

The tribunal is a three-member panel, though two members are required to form a quorum.

It was further learnt that the tribunal might start sitting from next week, which would see to the commencement of the trial of Senator Tinubu and others charged before the tribunal by the Code of Conduct Bureau for violation of assets declaration law.

The two members are expected to be appointed and sworn in before the end of the week.

-Punchwp_posts