EFCC keeps mum over Tinubu’s bullion vans ahead of 2019 election
May 25, 2019Samuel Ogundipe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday declined comments about whether it had launched an investigation to find out how former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, came about the bullion vans that drove into his home in February.

Nigerians have mounted pressure on the anti-graft office to open money laundering probe against Mr Tinubu, after the ruling party chieftain was seen on February 22 receiving at least two armoured vehicles believed to be bearing cash.

The development raised controversies because it came a day to the presidential election on February 23.


Mr Tinubu is a senior leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and a strong ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was seeking reelection at the time.

Critics said there was no doubt the vehicles were conveying cash to bribe voters with, especially since such trucks are used in Nigeria almost exclusively to convey cash by banks, government institutions and cash-in-transit firms.

Mr Tinubu’s action was widely deemed contrary to Nigerian anti-money laundering laws, which places a cap of N5 million ( about $14,000) on cash handling by individuals.


The former Lagos governor admitted the next day that the bullion vans were conveying money to his house, but he defended his action as out of public’s interest because he was not a government official.

Transparency deferred
Many Nigerians expected the EFCC to investigate the incident for possible violation of Nigerian laws.

But the anti-graft office has declined to comment on the matter — and there is no evidence it is investigating it.

The first comments from the agency on the scandal came during a tweet meet on Thursday, during which the agency found a convenient opening to circumvent explanation.


“It is a matter of principle by the EFCC not to discuss in public, issues that border around investigations,” the agency said during the hour-long chat organised by the Tap Initiative in Abuja.


The Tap Initiative, an Abuja-based public policy think-tank, had asked whether or not the EFCC saw potential violations of anti-money laundering regulations in Mr Tinubu’s conduct.

The agency only confirmed that it had secured convictions over vote-buying offences, while several other investigations were ongoing around the same crimes.

It was unclear whether acting-chairman Ibrahim Magu took part in the tweet meet, but EFCC sources told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday night that the responses of the agency came from a senior anti-graft official.


Contributors dismissed the EFCC’s explanation during the tweet meet, saying the agency was reluctant to investigate Mr Tinubu because of his status as an ally of the president.

Martin Obono, the director of Tap Initiative, said the organisation does not engage in partisan commentary about its guests’ submission during a tweet meet, but the citizens have a right to challenge any replies they deem unsatisfactory.

“We have brought the EFCC as a guest on our May 23, 2019, edition of tweet meet, and asked questions that we believe were in the public interest,” Mr Obono said. “But if Nigerians found some of the responses insufficient, they can challenge them to move the conversation forward.”


It was the second time the EFCC would participate in the tweet meet, which Tap Initiative introduced in 2018 to engage public officials for updates on their activities.

Its first appearance came in November 2018, during which the agency similarly declined comments about Abdullahi Ganduje, the Kano State governor who was caught on video receiving wads of dollars in alleged bribes from public works contractor.




https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/331537-efcc-keeps-mum-over-tinubus-bullion-vans-ahead-of-2019-election.html

What makes you think it is not Buhari that ordered CBN to release $2B in cash to Tinubu, to spread around for his re-election?

The Law is not binding on everybody. You must accept that fact and stop worrying about justice.

Justice is a sham you are sold.

Thiefnubuu is a thief, who hide behind the name corrupt godfather to steal and steal with his daughter

Until Tinubu and co are made to prove their sources of wealth as legit, Buhari's anti-corruption war is a scam!

APC are just another copy of the PDP that looted Nigeria in the past afterall.

All NA Joke!
All NA Joke!!

In this govt, EFCC is an arm of APC and an Islamic agency !

Christians beware!

They keep on arresting yahoo boys, this govt is noting to write home about

Wiseandtrue:

Buhari keh Buhari cannot do that! He is a man of integrity


Yet he awards unofficial contracts! Riggs election! Turn blind eye to a while bullion van in someone's residence

And you say EFCC is not partisan working for Buhari and not Nigerians

*Spits*

EFCC does not work for the masses. EFCC works for those who 'nominate' the Head of EFCC. Do not be misled to thinking you are important or that the law is there to protect you.

The Laws are designed to separate the powerful from the masses. Know that core truth and not let anyone deceive you. Nationhood is a scam, a fraud pulled over your eyes. You are Sovereign and you are enough. As long as you generate your power and feed yourself and take care of all your needs, you do not need the Government, but the government needs you.

Politicians are just ordinary conmen who are too ignorant of how to be Yahoo yahoo, and those who can not stand a chance open Churches, the rest go into business and rip customers off.

Know these truth and take care of your friends and family and expect nothing from Politics. They are all thieves, including Buhari himself. And Yes, I can prove that buhari is a clever Thief. Even Atiku is a handsome criminal, Tinubu is an ugly criminal. Their sources of wealth comes from the Crude Oil under our feet. Our common wealth is what feeds them and not us.

So they are afraid of us uniting and killing them off with their families. That is why EFCC and SARS are sent out to instill fear on the dumb masses.

Our corruption fight is so laughable

They are mad. If it's a pdp member or naira Marley, they will discuss it in public o

EFFC is so scared of baba Tinubu

They don't know how to tell you that Tinubu is above the law.

Useless APC

Go to central Mosque and announce it for Magu to hear loud and clear. Yeye people .

LOL. And they say Buhari fighting corruption.

We will revisit that case when the time comes.
When we have a government of the people.

Tinubu should not get too comfortable.

i swear...... 9ja don finished........................ to........................... Zero level........

mackDeee:
I swear The link on my profile personal text truly works.. I never want to do it before until I did it and got paid. Just copy it to ur browser and register in less than 5 minutes

how do one register

lmao

what if na ballot papers dey inside those van? wonder why will Tinubu want to pull a financial stunt close to election when he must have known everybody don tear eyes now ?



any which way, justice in Nigeria get level to different classes of people

a Petty thieves/yahoo boys get 4 month imprisonment

a politicians that stole billions of naira would be told to pay a fine and still contest for a political post in this country


in Buhari's voice we are fighting kwarupshion, you can't watch Nta news without hearing their rhythm president Buhari is fighting kwarupshion go and check Yusuf and his siblings account and see how Buhari is fighting kwarupshion

Billy0naire:


EFCC does not work for the masses. EFCC works for those who 'nominate' the Head of EFCC. Do not be misled to thinking you are important or that the law is there to protect you.

The Laws are designed to separate the powerful from the masses. Know that core truth and not let anyone deceive you. Nationhood is a scam, a fraud pulled over your eyes. You are Sovereign and you are enough. As long as you generate your power and feed yourself and take care of all your needs, you do not need the Government, but the government needs you.

Politicians are just ordinary conmen who are too ignorant of how to be Yahoo yahoo, and those who can not stand a chance open Churches, the rest go into business and rip customers off.

Know these truth and take care of your friends and family and expect nothing from Politics. They are all thieves, including Buhari himself. And Yes, I can prove that buhari is a clever Thief. Even Atiku is a handsome criminal, Tinubu is an ugly criminal. Their sources of wealth comes from the Crude Oil under our feet. Our common wealth is what feeds them and not us.

So they are afraid of us uniting and killing them off with their families. That is why EFCC and SARS are sent out to instill fear on the dumb masses.

Good bless you today

mackDeee:
I swear The link on my profile personal text truly works.. I never want to do it before until I did it and got paid. Just copy it to ur browser and register in less than 5 minutes

How can I buy bitcoin from UK please

Neil0072009:


Good bless you today

Amen, Allah Jesus Budha Jehovah, all of them.

After how many months?This should have been done immediately after footage of the bullion vans surface online.Evidence has already been wiped off.

Efcc keeps mum....l am not understanding

Emperor of Lagos State money