IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Former Minister of Aviation and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Wednesday, dismissed claims that the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, was indicted and convicted of drug trafficking in the United States.
Fani-Kayode said those accusing Tinubu of being convicted of drug trafficking 30 years ago in the US are ignorant and misinformed.
Voiceofnaija.ng had earlier reported that the United States Court of the Northern District of Illinois, released documents indicating possession of Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s money over his involvement in drug trafficking.
According to the document, the monies held in those forfeited accounts were proceeds from white heroin drug operations operated by Akande and his partners.
Akande had a strong and well-connected narcotics business, whose proceeds were substantial and kept in the forfeited bank accounts, the document shows.
Mr. Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress and former Lagos governor, has come under intense public ridicule and political onslaught for his role in an early 1990s drug trafficking case in Chicago.
The 56-page document released by the district court’s headquarters in Chicago did not include crucial new details, but it further confirmed snippets of the matter that had been shared spontaneously by the media for years.
Taking to his Twitter page to respond to the report on Wednesday, FFK said: “BAT was neither indicted nor convicted of drug trafficking or anything else in the USA. This is a FACT & it’s the BOTTOM LINE. Those that have labelled him a drug baron due to an out of court settlement& repatriation of funds in the U.S. 30 years ago are ignorant& misinformed.
“They have no idea of how the American justice system works and I would urge them to go and find out.
“If Asiwaju was a drug baron and if he was wanted in America I doubt the U.S. Ambassador would have visited his campaign office a few weeks ago to wish him well.
“If he was a drug baron that is wanted in America I doubt that he would have avoided extradition all these years considering the power, hatred, fury and venom of his numerous enemies and many detractors.
“If he was a drug baron he would not be the leading contender for the presidential election & the man to beat next year. The opposition is desperate & are doing all they can to discredit him before February next year.
“They started with the Muslim/Muslim ticket issue, it lost steam and failed and now they have resorted to this & revisited an issue that was rested, settled and clarified by the American Embassy in Nigeria itself in 2003.
“Despite their desperation these dirty tactics, mudslinging and campaign of calumny against a profoundly good man that has done so much for our county will not work.
“The Jagaban is firmly on course and he SHALL, by God’s grace and the will of the Nigerian people, be elected President of our beloved country next year. (FFK)”
His reaction to the documents released by the United States District of Illinois, immediately sparked reactions from tweeps.
A tweep, @cleanlook3 said: “Please I will like to knw what tinubu did for Nigeria.. because have be asking this question but no answer from anyone…
“Maybe becos he gave us Buhari Or MC oluomo”
@Dinokaysman tweeted: “Please what was the issue that was rested years ago is it not about drug trafficking and money laundering please make it make sense🤔”
@ukpajnr wrote: “Profound good man, wow!!!!! Same man you called a murderer. Nigeria is indeed an amazing country.”
Another tweep, Friday Yakubu, reacted to FFK’s tweet and said: “Did l heard you say good man? You are shameless”
@MilordElias also said: “You can only deceive the gullible ones with your lies. One don’t need to go to USA to know how the plea bargain works. He is a drug lord and never will a drug lord be our president. Never!”