Tinubu's trial begins, ACN states 'mobilise' supporters to Abuja

Details: Category: Law, Crime & Judiciary; Published on Wednesday, 21 September 2011 08:50; Written by Admin; Hits: 976

FROM Lagos to Ekiti and Osun states, hundreds of people were on Monday night, and all through yesterday afternoon, mobilised to storm Abuja to protest the trial of the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Bola Ahmed Tinubu for breaching the country's laws on the operation of foreign accounts while in office. The trial, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, begins today in Abuja.

People were mobilised into various buses in Ekiti and Osun states by persons suspected to be agents of the State Governments.

Tinubu is standing trial for allegedly operating foreign bank accounts while in office and also for perjury.

Tinubu lied on oath by refusing to declare the operation of several foreign bank accounts in the assets declaration form CCB-1 he submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau on 6th January, 2004.

He stated further: “Those mobilising people to go and protest in Abuja should know that Tinubu's trial is not different from those of other PDP members that have been tried in the past and those that are still being tried.

“From all indications, this protest being organised by Tinubu's political surrogates in the Southwest is an admission that Tinubu, their boss is guilty of the allegations made against him by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

Tinubu2 “It is an admittance of guilt but no amount of paid protests and media propaganda can prevent the law from taking its course on Tinubu and others that have run foul of the laws of the country," Olu-Ojo said.

While calling on the Inspector General of Police to put his men on alert, Olu-Ojo said; "No individual or group is bigger than Nigeria and its laws."

The PDP in Osun also accused the ACN of plotting to disrupt the trial by sending thugs to Abuja from the South West states.
A statement by the party's state chairman, Otunba Sunday Ojo Williams, asked security agencies to prevent thugs ferried to Abuja this afternoon from causing mayhem in Abuja.

The PDP said it was aware that 10 bus loads of thugs were hired from each of the ACN states to disrupt the trial, and cautioned that no individual or group had a monopoly of violence.

The party said it was a surprise that the ACN could become so scared of the trial of Tinubu even when he was not the first to be so prosecuted.

It said: "Tinubu is not the first to be tried and he will not be the last. Several people from other political parties had gone through trials before, no one read politics into it. It is the guilty that adopts the disruptive tactics being employed by the Tinubu and his political party. We call on security agencies to be vigilant and prevent a disruption of the trial," the PDP said.

The charge against the former governor signed by the chief prosecutor, Kyari Ahmed read:
* “That you Bola Ahmed Tinubu former governor of Lagos State, being a public officer, as listed in part II of the fifth schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and having subscribed to the oath of office as enshrined in the seventh schedule to the 1999 Constitution on assumption in office as such engaged yourself in the operation and maintenance of several foreign bank accounts namely:

* Name of Bank – First Heritage bank, country club hill, Illinois, USA; Account name, Bola Tinubu, Account number – 263226700.

Name of Bank – Citi Bank NA. New York, USA; account name – Bola Tinubu and Compass Finance and investment Company Limited; Account Nos – 39483134, 39483396, 4650279566, 00400220, 39936383
Name of Bank. Citi Bank International, New York; Account name, Bola Tinubu
Name of Bank – HSBC, 177 Great Portland Street London WIW60J: Account Name Sen Bola Tinubu; account No. 71253670, Sort code-40-03-15.
Name of Bank – HSBC, 177 great port land street London WIW 60J; account name; Sen Bola Oluremi Tinubu, Account No. 71253670, sort code 40-03-15.
Name of Bank – HSBC, 177 Great Portland street London WIW 60J Account name, Sen Bola Tinubu – money market, Account No.04320002DN.
Name of Bank – HSBC, 177 great Portland Street London WIW 60J; Account name: tinubu Zainab Abisola (Miss); Account no. 172447101.
Name of Bank – HSBC, 177 great Portland street London WIW 60J; Account Name, Tinubu Oluremi Shade, account No. 41421522.
Contrary to section 7 of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act, Cap 56 LFN, 1990 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.