Fresh Troubles For Tinubu, As U.S. Government Issues Invitation For Questioning Over Drug Deals

Fresh Troubles For Tinubu, As U.S. Government Issues Invitation For Questioning Over Drug Deals


These are not the best of times for Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Despite his failing health owing to a recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, it appears that self-appointed National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and former Governor of Lagos State, Ahmed Bola Tinubu is still being invited for questioning over drug crimes and criminal activity allegedly committed in the United States.
A report monitored on the Federal Bureau of Investigations “Crime Data Explorer” revealed an open warrant seeking the arrest of the Asiwaju over unanswered questions relating to his indictment in 1995 over cocaine, heroin and gun related crimes. It would be recalled that the US government seized cocaine, heroin, guns and other items used in operating the drug ring in Chicago from Tinubu.
“It is true that he is still a suspect and the case against him is very much open, a US Security source said. “Even if today Tinubu decides to visit the United States again, he would be questioned.“His crime is not one that can be swept under the carpet just like that.
“The usual suspicion by the United States and other countries is that once you have a criminal record, you must be monitored properly in order to forestall you committing the same crime again.”
Tinubu’s drug crime life has refused to go away from the U.S authorities even as mainstream media houses in Nigeria have been largely compromised and would not report the atrocities and conviction of the APC leader
It would be recalled that the APC national leader was indicted by the United States Government for drug and fraud related offences. According to the document, signed by a former United States Government Narcotics Attache in its embassy in Nigeria, Andre W. Kellum, Tinubu operated an organisation that distributed cocaine.
Kellum who signed the U.S documents while serving in Nigeria, is now Regional Director for the Drug Enforcement Agency, DEA, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Kellum said that though Tinubu was not subjected to criminal prosecution, the fact that he acceded to forfeiting funds to the United States Government was on its own a conviction.
The letter, in its opinion section, noted, “Former paragraph 6 above, Ahmed Bola Tinubu was involved in Money Laundering Transactions along with Mueez Adegboyega Akande and Abiodun Agbele in the United States of America.
“Arising from the case, Ahmed Bola Tinubu forfeited 460,000 US dollars to the United States Government being proceeds of narcotic trafficking or property involved in financial transactions in violation of 18 USO 1956 and 1957 and therefore was forfeitable to the United States
(emphasis that of the NDLEA).
“It is pertinent to note that the funds held by Citi bank which was released to Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the action filed against these funds held in the said accounts was dismissed with prejudice. This in effect means the case has not been closed (emphasis that of NDLEA) and
could be reopened at any time by the United States Government.”
The court, in the order given on October 4, 1993, said the drug deal, specifically in white heroin, involved Tinubu; his wife, Oluremi; and three of his family members.
The accounts from which the funds were seized included First Heritage Bank (263226700), Citi International Bank (39483134, 39483396, 4650279566, 00400200, 39936404, 39936383, 52050-89451952, 52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953).
According to a Special Agent of the United States Criminal Investigation Service, Kevin Moss, the DEA became involved in the investigation of a white heroin network operating in Chicago, Illinois (where Tinubu alleged he got a university certificate, which became a source of controversy while he was in office) and Hammond, Indiana in 1988.
Cocaine, heroin, guns and other paraphernalia used for running the drug cartel were recovered by the investigators.
The affidavit added, “The investigation disclosed that an individual known as Lee Andrew Edwards was a source of white heroin. Edwards is currently incarcerated for attempting to murder a federal agent while the agent was executing a search warrant.
The implication of the foregoing is that Tinubu may be incarcerated in his old age should he venture the United States anytime soon.

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