Lagos PDP Tackles Ambode Over World Bank Loan

The governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode, has come under criticism from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over a loan his administration is seeking to obtain from the World Bank, amounting to N3.94 billion his administration obtained from the World Bank

The PDP urged Ambode to forget the decision until the government have properly looked into the outstanding loans obtained by the previous administration.

The PDP also accused Ambode of being too weak to fight corruption and block wastage in the government’s purse because of its continual engagement with Alpha Beta, a tax consultant firm allegedly owned by former governor of the state and godfather of the governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, which the party posited is milking the state of her revenue.

In a statement by the party’s publicity secretary, Taofeek Gani, made available to National Mirror, the party alleged that the firm is milking Lagos state government dry.
The statement further said: “The history of loans in the state is very embarrassing and has plunged the state into local and foreign debts running into trillions of naira.

“Why indeed will a state still run after World Bank loan when such state realises average of N27 billion as monthly IGR. Governor Ambode should have a rethink and be prudent.
“
Again we reiterate that this Ambode administration will not be different from the two previous administrations in the areas of amassing unwarranted loans and fighting corruption in the state. Governor Ambode does not have the will and cannot exert his authority to fight corruption in this state, otherwise all a governor should do in Lagos is to block the leakages and the monthly IGR now standing at N27 billion will definitely shore up.

“Until the services and activities of the firm in the state are probed, Lagosians will continue to hear huge figures of loans in spite huge IGR.

“It is also laughable that rather than probe the finance and administration of the state, the governor has decided to be diversionary by merely renaming the department. We ask to know whether this is also deliberate to cover up the numerous alleged frauds, mismanagement and embezzlement going on in the state since 1999?.”

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress has stated that the PDP cannot provide any worthwhile opposition if its spokesperson continues to issue convoluted and fustian statements

Nigeria's Biggest Landlord

Does Tinubu owns illegal properties?

Editor’s note: Following the film aired on African Independent Television (AIT) Emeka Umeagbalasi hold an investigation of buildings worth billions of naira located within and beyond Lagos State supposedly acquired and owned illicitly by referenced former Lagos Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial policy of Naij.com from where this article was obtained.

Story highlights:

• The Nigeria’s biggest landlord
• Beyond the threat of lawsuit
• Are these properties exist in the country and in areas they are said to be located?
• Is Tinubu  Mr Clean or not?

(Elombah) – The attention of leadership of International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law has been drawn to a lawsuit threat letter (for libel) addressed to the Management of Daar Communications Limited; owners of the AIT by solicitors of one Mr. Tinubu Ahmed over the former’s recent airing of a documentary alleging that the latter illicitly acquired and owned the following choice properties:

Oriental Hotel, Falomo Shopping Complex, First Nation Airline, Private Jets, Lekki Concession Company, Apapa Amusement Park, the Renaissance Hotel, the Radio Continental, the TV Continental, the Nation Newspaper, Ikeja Shopping Mall, Alpha Beta (IGR collectors), ownership of Tejuoso Market, School of Nursing & NNPC buildings, N4B property located at the Queens Drive, Lagos and other choice properties worth billions of naira located within and beyond Lagos State allegedly acquired and owned illicitly by referenced Tinubu Ahmed.

 

                                             Oriental Hotel in Lagos
These, according to the referenced broadcast, have earned the referenced citizen a satirical name – “the Nigeria’s biggest landlord”. The law chambers and offices of frontline lawyers and rights activists in Lagos State were also said to have been quartered in some of the referenced illicit choice properties in the State.

While the right of every Nigerian including the referenced potential libel litigant to approach a court of law in the event of any damage or harm to his or her name or reputation is constitutionally guaranteed; it is our considered view that the matter under reference goes beyond issuance of threat of lawsuit. By writing to the Management of AIT and threatening same with multi billion naira lawsuit of libel, the referenced Tinubu Ahmed is making Nigeria and Nigerians to believe that he is “Mr. Clean” who goes to the equity with clean hands.
The referenced letter of his also demonstrates that he is stainless and impeccable in character as well as incorruptible; that from the time he was a top public office holder in Nigeria till date, he lived and still lives within his legitimate incomes including the spent and unspent legitimate allowances he was paid as a top public office holder.

It further demonstrates that he has never stolen or criminally diverted public funds for private possession or ownership; and that his present incomes and properties (if any) are in commensuration with pieces of information contained in his  asset declaration form filled and submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau when he  contested for the said public office in 1999

                                           CAD view of Falomo shopping center

Our informed questions are: are these properties exist in the country and in areas they are said to be located? If they exist, who acquired and own them? How much did the referenced Tinubu Ahmed worth in 1999 as declared and known to the Code of Conduct Bureau and how much does he worth today? As a former top public office holder from 1999 to 2007, what was his total salaries and allowances in accordance with relevant provisions of the Salaries & Allowances for Top Public Office Holders Act of the Federation of Nigeria 2002 as amended in 2008?

To instruct private solicitors to cause a letter of threat of lawsuit of libel to be addressed to a media outfit is not enough because sometimes court processes are used to cover social ills and intimidate whistle blowers to unceremonious silence and submission. This explains why we held that the reference matter goes beyond issuance of letter of threat of lawsuit of libel. The referenced Tinubu Ahmed owes Nigerians detailed and convincing public explanations, not just mere threat of lawsuit or lawsuit proper.

                                               One of Tinubu’s private jets

For Nigerians to be convinced that the referenced citizen is clean, incorruptible and impeccable and knows nothing directly or indirectly about the grave allegations under reference, he should come clean publicly and deny publicly too that he has nothing to do with the properties under reference directly or indirectly. The referenced citizen also owes Nigerians moral and legal obligations by publicly disclosing the totality of his legitimate salaries and allowances or those known to the law and Constitution of Nigeria from June 1999 to May 2007 when he held sway as a top public office holder.

The public disclosures being demanded will include how much he collected as severance allowances; how much he spent of the entire salaries and allowances in eight years as well as the remainder and their whereabouts till date. Part of the public disclosures will be to mention and identify company or companies and properties (if any) he owned prior to 1999 and their locations as well as those under his name and ownership from 2007 till date. The public disclosure of pre 1999 properties/companies (if any) should also include accrued profits and losses till date.

                                                          Ikeja shopping mall

It is only when the foregoing is dutifully, convincingly and publicly disclosed by the referenced Tinubu Ahmed that Nigerians will agree beyond further doubts that he is indeed Mr. Clean and an equity seeker with clean hands.

Also if the foregoing is done as publicly being demanded, the Management of AIT will bury its head in shame and lose its teeming viewers and supporters; even though the grave allegations were first made in 2012 by then Vice Chairman for Southwest (Segun Oni) of one of the registered political parties in Nigeria called PDP (source: Frontier News 2012).

                                                   First Nation Airline

But if the contrary becomes the case, then Nigerians will be left with no other option than to assert conclusively and rightly that the allegations do not lack in substance.
  

CHALLENGE TINUBU, IF YOU CAN

                                                             Bola Tinubu

EVERYWHERE in the world, there are people who go into politics because they feel a genuine call to service. Others do so, either for self aggrandisement or in furtherance of some ignoble objectives or simply to protect their crooked and morally unscrupulous background. Whatever the circumstances, it is our character that determines the motivation and pattern of our politics. Anyone who remembers the dying days of military dictatorship in Nigeria and the activities of pro-democracy groups would hardly forget Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Those concerned enough to study his background and personal profile knew how difficult it was to sift the real from the fabricated. It was common knowledge that in Tinubu’s records – from family history, through education and working career to political activities – nothing simply seemed to add up. Much of what was said or written about Tinubu belonged to the rumour category and was, therefore, of no significance to serious-minded Nigerians.

Of what concern, for instance, was Tinubu’s doubtful parentage, whether or not the late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji was, truly, his biological mother? Why would Nigerians bother, if he did or did not attend Government College Ibadan, whether or not he obtained a degree from Chicago State University, unless the qualifications acquired from these institutions were presented for the purpose of securing appointment? Nor, was it of relevance to many in the 1990s – when Tinubu came into the political limelight – whether or not he grew up as an area boy (the euphemism for social miscreants) in Campus Square of Lagos Island or, indeed, whether or not he was once a political thug? ,

What seemed most crucial to Nigerians at the time was that the man played an active role as one of the founding fathers of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) that fought the nation’s military dictators to a standstill. So, when Tinubu ran away on self-exile in 1994-98, it was conveniently interpreted as an escape from military persecution. But, he might have had other reasons for abandoning his fatherland.

Tinubu’s rise, on the political ladder, since his return from exile, has been so meteoric that he appears to have forgotten his humble beginning. Having acquired enormous wealth and power, he now wears the toga of “Asiwaju.” Information has it that he is pressing hard to enthrone himself as the “Asiwaju of Yorubaland”, with or without the blessings of the Yoruba people. Now, what accounts for the sudden rise of Tinubu’s profile? First, he was Governor of Lagos State, the richest State in the country, for eight years during which he was the Alpha and the Omega.

Then, he installed one of his most loyal subordinates who agreed that his godfather must stick around for their mutual benefits. The juiciest part of the agreement, it seems, was that Tinubu’s company, Alpha Beta (Consulting) Ltd, would be in charge of the assessment and collection of all taxes and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) due, payable and paid, on behalf of the Lagos State Government.

In actual figures, the Lagos State Government makes over N40 billion from IGR every month and based on the percentage of commission agreed upon between godfather and godson, Tinubu’s company rakes well over N4 billion belonging to the long-suffering people of Lagos each month. So, in effect, Tinubu holds Lagos State by the jugular. Tinubu’s rise appears unstoppable, especially after his transformation to the status of national leader, following the merger of the defunct ACN with other parties giving birth to the APC.

He now sees himself as Nigeria’s President-in-waiting or, at least, Vice-President to be; which explains why he is desperately seeking recognition as the idolized leader of the Yoruba race. In fact, he made the point abundantly clear the other day when he challenged the Awo dynasty (even with Mama Hannah almost clocking 100 years) for a final determination of who should be the Leader of the Yoruba. No doubt, Tinubu has lost respect for traditional Yoruba values.

Those who may be reading inordinate ambition into Tinubu’s apparent desperation should take serious note of the man’s policy: “If recognition is not willingly given to you, procure it.” It is a policy anchored on the absolute power of wealth. To a large extent, it appears to be very effective, especially in the South West–dominated media where there is hardly any voice of criticism against Tinubu, no matter what he does.

In fact, Tinubu believes that with money, the entire Nigerian media – and politicians too – can be bought. He may be right, considering the number of accomplished journalists, editors and columnists who sing his praises on a daily basis and would find nothing wrong, even if he commits murder! As the saying goes, “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Bola Tinubu believes that he has conquered the South West (almost all the States therein, except stubborn Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s Ondo and Ekiti State). In some of the States, he has successfully deployed his army of area-boys.

With Lagos State under his firm grip and the daily inflow of massive funds guaranteed, he believes that he is now capable of raising a military outfit that can defeat the Armed Forces of the Federal Government. That must have been Tinubu’s source of confidence when he threatened that “election riggers in Ekiti and Osun States”, during the last governorship contests in the two States, would be “roasted”, rather than face normal legal processes.

Now back to the critical question: Why is Tinubu in politics and why is he so eager to acquire more powers and resources? The answer is simple: he needs power to cover up his not too pleasant past and mountains of infractions – some purportedly criminal – against the people. He also needs the resources, perhaps, to continue to appease the Lagos masses that he has impoverished. FEMI AYELABOWO,a public affairs commentator, wrote Ibadan, Oyo state

Court Urged to Stop Eko Atlantic Dredging over Flooding Risk

                                             Eko Athlantic CityFrom This Day Live -

The Federal High Court Lagos has been asked to stop the ongoing dredging of the Atlantic Ocean and building construction on the Eko Atlantic City by the Lagos State Government and private investors.
The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) is alleging that the defendants did not undertake any approved Environmental Impact Assessment as required by law.

Besides, it said there was no plan to ensure that the dredging of the ocean will not overflow the coastal environment and the rural communities along the banks of the ocean.

LEDAP said the Federal Ministry of Environment,  joined as a defendant in the case, did not authorise the project because it has not issued the statutory Environmental Impact Statement approving the dredging and building construction as required by the Environmental Impact Assessment Act 1992.

The plaintiff is praying the court to declare that it is unlawful for the Atlantic City Project to be undertaken without an approved environmental impact assessment as required by the Environmental Impact Assessment Act 1992.

It said to continue with the project would be detrimental to the environmental safety of communities along the coastal banks of the Atlantic Ocean.

The plaintiff is asking the court to issue an injunction restraining the defendants from continuing with the project until properly approved environmental impact assessment is conducted, through consultation with the coastal communities as required by law.

LEDAP wants the court to order Lagos State government and the South Energy Limited to adequately resettle all the communities on the coastal banks that are already affected or likely to be affected by the dredging.
According to the plaintiff, the court should stop the project because of its destructive impact on the aquatic life in the entire Nigerian territorial waters and the environment of the coastal communities including Victoria Island, Lekki Peninsula and several fishing settlements on the west coast of the ocean.

The Eko Atlantic City, largely owned by a consortium of foreign companies, involves deep dredging of the Atlantic Ocean and construction of high-rise commercial and residential buildings on the recovered shores of Bar Beach, Kuramo beach and Victoria Island Lagos.
LEDAP said under the Act, any person undertaking such a project is required to undertake detailed field assessment of its negative impact of on the environment, and in consultation with the affected communities, develop plans on how to ameliorate and solve the environmental problems.

“The dredging of the ocean and construction of buildings on the reclaimed land under the Eko Atlantic City will not only flood the coastal areas in coming years, but will destroy aquatic life in the entire Nigerian territorial waters of the ocean including fishes and animals, thereby negatively affecting the rich ecosystem of the ocean, the Lagoon and adjourning rivers, swamps and wetland of the country.

“Most of the rural fishing communities who depend on the ocean and surrounding waters for livelihood will be utterly displaced and impoverished,” LEDAP said.

The suit was filed following series of unsuccessful requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2011 by LEDAP on Lagos State Government and South Energy Limited, the lead owner of the Eko Atlantic City, for details of environmental impact assessment conducted before embarking on the project.

Lagos State government and South Energy Limited have already sold the future apartments and buildings in the new city, which runs into billions of Naira.

LEDAP said they allegedly have not made any plan to take care of the environment of the coastal communities against the obvious consequences of displacing and dredging the ocean.

“Already, many of the areas are over flooded from the dredging and construction works,” it said.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

 

Awori Indigenes Storm Bola Tinubu’s Residence

 

It is disheartening as an indigene of Lagos State to know that one of  the original ethnic groups that made up Lagos State of today,  The Aworis , have no representation at all levels of the government . Generally , the same issue is affecting all the other indigenous communities of Lagos State.

Recently , Some Awori indigenes stormed the Lagos residence of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to protest what they described as the marginalisation of their people in the appointment of public officials. The protesters said none of the Awori indigenes from their communities had been appointed into public office in the last 16 years, despite their support for the Lagos State Government and Tinubu.

Who are the indigenes of Lagos State?. The indigenous peoples of Lagos State are the Yoruba subgroups of the Aworis in Ikeja, the Eguns in Badagry area, the ljebus in Ikorodu and Epe, while Lagos Island consists of an admixture of Benin and Eko Aworis as well as repatriated Yorubas and other immigrants. Our people have been silently marginalised and politically castrated by one man called Bola Tinubu .

Who is Bola Tinubu?. Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a native of Iragbiji in Osun State and he could bear any name  from his weird past, such as Yekini Amoda Ogunlere , Hameed Sangodele ,  Yekini Amoda or even Bobo Chicago.

Ever since his inglorious eight year rule as Governor of Lagos from 1999 to 2007 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), to date, he has more or less served as the chief looter who has unleashed the most egregious corruption and reckless looting of the treasury of Lagos State. Even as he hides under the guise of championing democratic principles, various frauds, including financial crimes have been linked to him such that he can only be summed up as a perpetrator of diabolical deeds

There is no doubt that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has become a personification of Lagos. Just as his word is law, he can do and undo. What started out like an act of drama at the beginning of the current democratic dispensation in 1999 has left Nigeria’s premier state, Lagos, as a mere fiefdom of Tinubu who bears the titular toga of the “Lion of Bourdillon.” Though there is nothing democratic about his bearing, he is, in fact, an Emperor.

And there is no escaping the damning reality that Lagos is being plundered by a group of political usurpers who wear the cloak of democratic emancipators in an apparent case of parading immunity as impunity.

Since 1999 when Bola Tinubu became the Governor of Lagos State, our political representation in Lagos has drastically diminished . The indigenes of Lagos no longer have a voice in the running of the state affairs . Economically, our people are suffering, they are living in abject poverty .

The indigenes of Lagos State have been silently marginalised and politically castrated by Bola Tinubu . Our people are being oppressed and suppress by Bola Tinubu .
 It is pitiful that our people will now be parading themselves to Bola Tinubu residence to beg for what belongs to them, that is, their Birthright.

So far, as Bola Tinubu holds his Political and economical grip on Lagos State , the political and economical development of the indigenous people will never materialise and therefore our people will be backward and remain in his bondage .

The time is now ripe for the indigenes of Lagos State to REVOLT against Bola Tinubu . We want to break away from the BONDAGE and SLAVERY imposed on the people of Lagos State.

FREEDOM
 No one can continue to suppress and oppress the indigenous people of Lagos State forever . The spirit of ALLAH will eventually break the jinx. Now, we are determined to free our people from the shackles of SLAVERY imposed on us by Bola Tinubu .

Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.

FREEDOM FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF LAGOS STATE!, WE WANT TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE BONDAGE OF SLAVERY IMPOSED ON US BY BOLA TINUBU .

Please click the link below to read the full story 
http://www.punchng.com/politics/awori-indigenes-storm-tinubus-residence-in-protest/

Tinubu Stalls Buhari’s Moves to Appoint Fashola as Chief of Staff

The effort made by Bola Tinubu to block Former Governor Raji Fashola appointment as Chief of Staff to the Federation is now becoming a main concern to the indigenous people of Lagos State . This development now proves our point that Bola Tinubu does not have our interest at heart . He wants to curtail the economic and political growth of our people and to systematically enslave the indigenous people of Lagos State . 

Bola Tinubu is a native of Iragbiji in Osun State, who does not want the progress of indigenous Lagosians . He sees them as a threat to his selfish interest. Bola Tinubu is using his ill gotten wealth to suppress and oppress the indigenes of Lagos of State and to prevent the political advancement of the people .

So far, as Bola Tinubu holds his Political and economical grip on Lagos State , the political and economical development of the indigenous people will never materialise and therefore our people will be backward and remain in his bondage .

The time is now ripe for the indigenes of Lagos State to REVOLT against Bola Tinubu . We want to break away from the BONDAGE and SLAVERY imposed on the people of Lagos State .

FREEDOM
 No one can continue to suppress and oppress the indigenous people of Lagos State forever . The spirit of ALLAH will eventually break the jinx. Now, we are determined to free our people from the shackles of SLAVERY imposed on us by Bola Tinubu .

FREEDOM FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF LAGOS STATE!, WE WANT TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE BONDAGE OF SLAVERY IMPOSED ON US BY BOLA TINUBU .

Please click the link below to read the full story .
http://www.newspunch.org/tinubu-stalls-buharis-moves-to-appoint-fashola-as-chief-of-staff/

Tinubu’s past haunts him

Monday, February 3, 2003
Tinubu’s past haunts him...

*New affidavit alleges money laundering & other crimes
By Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar

Fresh charges of fraud, forgery and money laundering are threatening the re-election bid of Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the coming April polls.
Daily Trust gathered that these charges–and many more–have already been sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the anti-corruption commission and security agencies, seeking for his disqualification and prosecution.

An Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Olowu, has deposed to an affidavit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, affirming his beliefs on the charges.
Daily Trust has in its possession both the affidavit and a 97–page petition specifying the charges, with documents, against the governor.

Although the petition restates past forgery allegations that had earlier been the subject of legal tussle between Governor Tinubu and Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, it also brings fresh allegations against the governor.

Top among them are drug and money laundering–related charges which Olowu said had led to the confiscation of Tinubu’s 460,000 US dollars (about N62 million) by a US court in 1993.
Citing the court’s records, Olowu alleged that Tinubu was docked at the US District Court in the Northern District of Illinois State in relation to the charges.

According to the petition, the records show that an American Special Agent, Kevin Moss, had deposed to an affidavit, alleging that Tinubu was probably involved in illicit drug and money laundering activities in violation of US laws 18 USC SS 1956 and 1957.

The agent also averred that the money held in Tinubu’s and his company’s accounts at the US First Heritage Bank, N.A. and Citibank International "represents the proceeds of drug trafficking, making the fund in the accounts forfeitable to the United States, pursuant to 18 USC S981 and 21 USC S881."

Olowu said: "Any doubt as to the veracity of the depositions of Special Agent Kevin Moss in terms of the forgoing is erased by the fact that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu engaged the US procedure of Plea bargain which resulted in the US court confiscating the $460,000 in the foregoing terms on September 15, 1993 by US District Judge John A. Nordberg," (see Document A on page 4).

But reacting to this particular allegation through his Information Commissioner, Governor Tinubu denied ever facing charges on drug trafficking and money laundering activities.

He did, however, admit that he forfeited the 460,000 US dollars in question to the US government in a negotiated settlement after a civil case was brought against the funds in his accounts in the US banks.

But, he said, he did that only to avoid substantial legal costs which would have followed in the absence of a compromise.

Tinubu’s defence was contained in a statement issued by Information Commissioner, Mr. Dele Alake, and published by yesterday’s edition of Sunday Punch and This Day on Sunday.
Alake said the civil suit was brought against Tinubu’s funds (and not Tinubu in person) in 1993 based on the Special Agent Kevin Moss’s suspicious that the funds were involved in financial transactions in violation of US laws.

"No criminal charge was ever brought or considered in conjunction with this lawsuit. It was a forfeiture action only and as no charges had arisen against anyone, no conviction or resulting sentence could possibly flow from such a civil law proceeding," he said.

"As the proceedings dragged on, Bola Tinubu incurred huge legal expenses and was later advised, in view of the time, effort and expense required for long drawn out legal proceedings in the US, to enter into negotiations with the US Attorney for a compromise settlement of claims to the funds," he added.

"The terms of the settlement actually reflected the Tinubu’s position that he was the rightful owner of the funds at issue and disputed the plaintiff’s allegation that any of the account funds represented the proceeds of illegal or wrongful activities," the statement added.

"It was only to avoid substantial legal costs, which would have followed in the absence of a compromise that he (Tinubu) agreed to withdraw his claim of entitlement to (the) $460,000 USAD.
"
The amount was never proven to be the proceeds of any illegal acts and there was never any legal proceeding held to determine anything more than the funds would (be forfeited) to the government without contest as part of the settlement Agreement," he added. (See Tinubu Defence on Pg. 5).
However, the petition against Tinubu was not only restricted to drug and money laundering allegations.

The petitioner also accused Tinubu of forgery and falsification of claims relating to his educational and professional qualifications.

Olowu alleged that Tinubu neither obtained a bachelors degree from the University of Chicago nor was he a Certified Public Accountant as he (Tinubu) claimed in the screening form he submitted to INEC in 1998.

"Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu never attended either the University of Chicago or the Chicago State University at anytime contrary to his claims. Neither did he obtain any B. Sc degree in Economics or Business Administration from any university. Indeed, he never qualified as a certified public accountant," he said.

Also, citing the contents of Tinubu’s passport and INEC’s screening form CF 001, Olowu further accused Tinubu of falsification of age.

"On Form CF 001, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu claimed to have been born in Lagos on March 29, 1952 whilst by passport No. A158399 issued by the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 16th February 1988, he was entered to have been born on 29th March, 1954 in Iragbiji, a place in Osun State of Nigeria," Olowu said (see Documents B and C on page 4).

An act of forgery alone, Olowu said, had clearly disqualified Tinubu from contesting elections as provided by Section (i) (j) of the 1999 constitution.

Similarly, Olowu alleged that Tinubu contravened Section 183 of the same constitution by being the Governor of Lagos and simultaneously remaining as a director of Compass Finance and Investment Company Limited.

He said "records of the CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) in Nigeria confirms that as at 23rd July 2002, Bola Tinubu remains a director of Compass Finance and Investment Company Limited in addition to both Abiodun Agbele and Mueez Akande, identified as his long standing drug and money laundering associates in the Affidavit of Agent Kevin Moss." (see Document D on page 4).

In the petition, Olowu called on INEC to disqualify Tinubu from participating in the coming elections, and pleaded with the Inspector-General of Police to prosecute him.
He said the petition has shown "with compelling finality" that Tinubu "is not fit to be accepted as an aspirant" for the office of Lagos State Governor by INEC in the 2003 elections.

On the whole, we invite each of the authorities to commence their respective investigations into the above activities with a view to involving relevant and appropriate procedures," he added.

The petition’s cover note shows that both the petition and the affidavit had been submitted to the INEC, Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission (ICPC) the Code of Conduct Bureau and the State Security Service headquarters in Abuja on the 17th of January, 2003.
When Daily Trust got the petition about two weeks ago, it made efforts to reach Governor Tinubu for his reactions.

On two occasions, Daily Trust contacted the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Segun Ayobolu, both on which he promised to provide detailed defence, but in vain.

In the first instance, he said that no one should take the petitions serious because "these are political times" when opponents engage in acts of "mud slinging and blackmail."

He, however, promised to visit our office in Abuja to provide us with their detailed defence.
Last Friday, too, he phoned again and said that he was coming to Abuja at the weekend to bring the details of their defence against the petition. He never did.

FREEDOM
No one can continue to suppress and oppress the indigenous people of Lagos State forever . The spirit of ALLAH will eventually break the jinx. Now, we are determined to free our people from the shackles of SLAVERY imposed on us by Bola Tinubu .

FREEDOM FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF LAGOS STATE!, WE WANT TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE BONDAGE OF SLAVERY IMPOSED ON US BY BOLA TINUBU .