United States’ Fine Not Enough To Disqualify Tinubu — PEPC

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT), on Wednesday afternoon, ruled that President Bola Tinubu cannot be disqualified from the Nigerian presidential election on the account of the fine imposed on him by a United States court.

According to the Tribunal, what was handed to Tinibu in the US was a civil forfeiture proceeding.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsamani, said President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettma were qualified to contest the February 25 presidential election.

The court held that the fine imposed by the US court did not qualify as a fine for fraud or dishonesty provided in Section 137(1)(d) of the Constitution.

It added that the petitioners evidently failed to prove their case that Tinubu was disqualified by virtue of the decision of the US court, adding that Peter Obi and the Labour Party did not comply with the requirements of Section 249(1) and (2) of the Evidence Act in proving conviction outside the country.

The Tribunal held that the US court case was in respect of a civil case, not a criminal case, adding even if it was to be a criminal case, Section 137(1)(e) of the Constitution provides that such conviction or fine must be within 10 years for person to be disqualified.