PEPC Dismisses Tinubu’s Alleged US Drug-Dealing

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has ruled that President Bola Tinubu cannot be disqualified on the basis of his forfeiture of drug money in the United States.

The Presidential Petition Election Tribunal’s five-member panel, presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani, delivered its decision on the petition on Wednesday.

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According to the PEPT, Tinubu was earlier exonerated by the Nigeria Police Force of any criminal matters in the US following a request the police made to US law enforcement.

Tinubu’s ability to enter and leave the US was revealed by the court, which means he is not charged with any crimes.

In his decision, Tsammani stated that Tinubu was not a party to the US District Court’s decision in Northern Illinois, which ordered the forfeiture of Tinubu’s $460,000 in a drug-related matter.

The petitioners claimed that Tinubu forfeited $460,000 in the US due to a felony prosecution for drug trafficking, which would disqualify him from running for office.

The evidence (Exhibit P5) submitted by the petitioners demonstrates that it was a civil forfeiture procedure, according to the tribunal.

Justice Tsammani ruled that the petitioners had not offered convincing proof that Tinubu had been charged, entered a plea, or received a term or fine in any criminal case in the US.

“According to the interpretation of Section 137(d) of the 1999 Constitution, the order of forfeiture in Exhibit P5 on which the petitioners have relied is not a punishment of fine for an offence including dishonesty or fraud, Tsammani stated.

“The tribunal claims that a civil forfeiture is not a judgement or an allegation of a crime.”