I’m Not A Party In US Drug Case, Tinubu Tells Tribunal

The president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, that he was not a party in the drug case that was said to have been filed against him by the United States Government in 1993.

Tinubu, in his response to the petition by Labour Party and its candidate, Mr Peter Obi, said since he was not a party in the criminal case, he was eminently qualified to contest the February 25 presidential election.

Shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu the winner of the election, the LP and its candidate approached the tribunal for an order to nullify the election.

But Tinubu and Shettima in their response to the petition urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition by Obi and the LP.

Tinubu said in his reply, “The pleadings in paragraphs 28-31 of the petition hinge the alleged disqualification of the 2nd respondent (Tinubu) on a decision of the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division in case No 93C-4483 delivered on October 4, 1993.

“The 2nd respondent herein named was not a party or defendant in the said case No 93C-4483.

 “The 2nd respondent was/is not one of the listed parties in the decision Illinois, Eastern Division in case No 93C-4483 delivered on October 4, 1993, was not rendered by a Court or Tribunal created pursuant to any written law in Nigeria.

“This Honourable Court lacks the jurisdiction to enforce the purported judgement of the court in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“The pleadings in paragraphs 28 –31 of the petition do not disclose a reasonable cause of action cognizable under Sections131, 134 and 137 legislation or instrument under the provisions of a law in Nigeria.

“The decision of the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division in case No 93C-4483 delivered on October 4, 1993 is/was not in respect of any cause of action or offence created by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“The case of the petitioners as pleaded has not disclosed any disqualifying factor as prescribed by Section 137 (1)(d) and (e) of the  Act of the National Assembly or law of a State.”