Civil society group Concerned Nigerians gives EFCC seven days within which to prosecute Tinubu

CIVIL society group Concerned Nigerians has written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) giving the agency seven days within which to initiate proceedings against former Lagos State governor and 2023 presidential aspirant Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Highly controversial, Asiwaju Tinubu is one of the candidates who has declared his interest in running for president next year. However, opposed to his candidacy, Concerned Nigerians has written to Abdulrasheed Bawa , the EFCC chairman in a letter dated March 25, giving the agency seven days to arrest Asiwaju Tinubu for corruption.

Signed by Deji Adeyanju on behalf of the group, the letter urged the EFCC to probe the source of money conveyed in bullion vans to Asiwaju Dinuba's home during the 2019 presidential elections. Mr Adeyanju warned that failure to comply within seven days, the group will approach the court to compel the EFCC to carry out its duties.

In addition, he said he  wondered why the anti-graft agency was yet to probe Asiwaju Tinubu after receiving the body’s petition two years ago. Mr Adeyanju accused the EFCC of selected justice with the arrest of former Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, while Asiwaju Tinubu goes about freely.

Mr Adeyanju urged EFCC to immediately initiate criminal charges against the former governor of Lagos State. He added that the only conclusion they can arrive at is that the commission engages in selective prosecution of suspects, contrary to the clear dictates of the law.

"It is important to remind the commission that Section One of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act states that no person or body corporate shall, except in a transaction through a financial institution, make or accept a cash payment of a sum exceeding N5,000,000 (in the case of an individual) or N10,000,000 (in the case of a body corporate). You may note that the present government rode on to power on an anti-corruption mantra, so it is ironic to note that the commission is unwilling to investigate and prosecute one of the government’s major backers, contrary to the president’s stance on total anti-corruption fight, irrespective of whose ox is gored.

"Sequel to the foregoing, we, hereby, demand that the commission initiates criminal charges against Mr Ahmed Bola Tinubu or send us its investigation report on our earlier petition (in the event that the commission finds him innocent), within seven working days from the receipt of this letter. Please take note that if our demand is not complied with within seven working days from the receipt of this letter, we shall approach a court of competent jurisdiction, seeking an order compelling the commission to perform its statutory duties," Mr Adeyanju added.