The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, sitting at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, received a response from the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who claimed that he was not part of any drug case against him by the United States Government in 1993
I Was Not Part In Any Us Drug Case – Tinubu
Tinubu stated that as he wasn’t involved in any criminal situation, he was qualified to contest the February 25 presidential elections.
The Labour Party and its candidate, Mr Peter Obi, approached the tribunal, requesting the nullification of the elections after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu the winner.
In response to the petition, Tinubu and Shettima urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by Obi and the LP, claiming that the allegations against Tinubu did not contain any substance.
Tinubu argued that since he was not a party or defendant in the drug case, according to paragraphs 28-31 of the petition, he was qualified to contest the presidential election.
He stated that the decision of the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division in case No 93C-4483 delivered on October 4, 1993, was unrelated to the causes of action and crimes created by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
As a result, Tinubu argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to enforce the decision of the court cited by the petitioners.
Besides, Tinubu claimed that the allegations did not show any cause of action that fell under Sections 131, 134 and 137 legislation or instrument under the provisions of the law in Nigeria.
Tinubu further explained in his response that the case of the petitioners did not disclose any disqualifying factor as prescribed by Section 137 (1)(d) and (e) of the Act of the National Assembly, nor any law of a State.
Tinubu emphasized that he was qualified to contest the presidential election, having fulfilled all constitutional requirements.
He pleaded with the tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by Obi and the LP.
In conclusion, Tinubu submitted his response to the tribunal, stating that he was not a party to any criminal case and that the allegations against him were not sufficient enough to qualify as a disqualifying factor.
Tinubu urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by Obi and the LP and declared him fit to occupy the presidential office he was legitimately elected for.
