Ex Governor Bola Tinubu was a Drug Baron! Nigerian Compass.
Posted To The Web: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 - Dotun Oladipo



Contrary to denials, the Nigerian Compass yesterday learnt that the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed that a former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Bola,

Ahmed Tinubu, ran a heroin ring in the country; was convicted, though with an option of fine; and was actually quizzed last month while entering into the country.

Documents available to the Nigerian Compass showed that the United States Government has written the Nigerian Government, highlighting the fact that Tinubu ran a cocaine ring in the country.

According to the document, signed by the United States Government Narcotics Attache in its embassy in Nigeria, Andre W. Kellum, Tinubu operated an organisation that distributed cocaine.

Kellum said that though Tinubu was not subjected to criminal prosecution, the fact that he acceded to forfeiting funds to the United States Government was on its own a conviction.

Kellum’s letter was a response to a petition pertaining to Tinubu’s suitability to stand for re-election in 2003 as the governor of Lagos State.

The petitioner said that Tinubu, owing to his conviction in the United States for running a drug cartel, was not suitable to stand for election in Nigeria.

In the letter dated April 9, 2003, addressed to the former Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Alhaji Bello Lafiaji, Kellum wrote, “After consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of International Affairs (OIA), this is in response to the above referenced matter, regarding Bola Ahmed TINUBU (emphasis that of Kellum).

“Pursuant to the aforementioned request, the Lagos, Nigeria Country Office (LNCO) of the Drug Enforcement Administration immediately contacted DOJ/OIA officials. Copies of documents received by the LNCO from the NDLEA were forwarded to these officials for verification.

“As such, please note that paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of the complaint indicates that persons named therein operated an organisation that distributed heroin and the proceeds of that illegal distribution were in the subject acounts to be forfeited. The complaint references U.S. (criminal) money laundering and (criminal) drug statutes as the authority under which the forfeiture occurs. Nevertheless, note that the complaint in this civil action identifies the funds as the defendant (Tinubu), not the account holders.

“Likewise, the Decree of Forfeiture, signed by a U.S. District Judge, identifies the criminal statutory authority for the civil forfeiture of the funds without regard to whether there is a corresponding criminal prosecution.

“The facts revealed in the U.S. Investigation of the funds and their source are detailed in the affidavit filed by the Internal Revenue Service.

In the letter from the NDLEA that resulted in Kellum’s reaction, the lead anti-narcotic agency in Nigeria said that the conclusion it could draw was that Tinubu’s drug case was yet to be closed by the United States.

The letter, in its opinion section, noted, “Former paragraph 6 above, Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu was involved in Money Laundering Transactions along with Mueez Adegboya Akande and Abiodun Agbele in the United States of America.

“Even though he was not charged to court, he had to compromise the case. Otherwise, he would have lost the whole money.

“Arising from the case, Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu forfeited 460,000 US dollars to the United States Government being proceeds of narcotic trafficking or property involved in financial transactions in violation of 18 USO 1956 and 1957 and therefore was forfeitable to the United States (emphasis that of the NDLEA).

“It is pertinent to note that the funds held by Citi bank which was released to Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the action filed against these funds held in the said accounts was dismissed with prejudice. This in effect means the case has not been closed (emphasis that of NDLEA) and could be reopened at any time by the United States Government.”

The opinion formed by the NDLEA on the issue as a result of Kellum’s letter, arose from a petition by one of the governorship aspirants in Lagos State in 2003, Sir Babatunde Abayomi Olowu, that Tinubu was not fit to stand for the governorship based on his conviction on drug offences in the United States.

The NDLEA said that though Olowu’s petition, dated January 16, 2003 raised several grounds for Tinubu to be prevented from contesting, the agency noted that the aspect in which it was interested was that between 1988 and 1993, the former governor was involved in narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

It said that upon receipt of the petition, it sent copies of the court that indicted Tinubu to the DEA in Nigeria for assitance.

It said the DEA, through Kellum, replied on April 9, 2003, confirming the existence of such proceedings.



The NDLEA said based on the report, it established that:

(a) That there was in fact a proceeding in the United States District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division in 1993 in which the United States of America was the Plaintiff and the funds in 10 accounts held by Governor Bola Tinubu and Compass Finance and Investment Co. at First Heritage Bank and Citi Bank International in the United States were the Defendants.

(b) The substance of the application filed by the United States Attorney was “This is an in rem forfeiture case brought pursuant to 22 U.S.C. Section 881 and 18 U.S.C. Section 981 which provides for the forfeiture of property representing the proceeds of drug trafficking and property involved in money laundering.”

( c ) Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu defended the said publication through his counsel Patrick S. Coffey and there was a stipulation and compromise settlement of claims to the funds held by Heritage Bank and Citi Bank.

(d) The United States and the Individual Claimants i.e. Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu and others agreed to settle and to compromise this action upon terms previously presented to the court.

(e) The court made the following findings “The United States filed a verified complaint for forfeitures against the funds in the above captioned defendant accounts because there was probable cause to believe that the property represented proceeds of narcotics traficking or was property involved in financial transactions in violation of 18 U.S.C. In 1956 and 1957 and therefore was forfeitable to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. Section 881 (a) 6 and 18 U.S.C. 981. The funds in the defendant accounts were seized initially by seizure warrants.”

(f) From the findings of the court, “Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu has admitted and acknowledged that the funds traced to his account represented proceeds of narcotics trafficking or was property involved in financial transactions in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1956 and 1957 and therefore was forfeitable to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. Section 881 (a) and 18 U.S.C. 981. The funds in the defendants acounts were seized initially by seizure warrants.”

(g) Following from (f) above, Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu has also admitted that he was involved in laundering proceeds of drug trafficking in the United States of America and the proceeds of such illicit drugs or money laundered in the sun of 460,000 US dollars be forfeited to the United States Government.

(h) Although Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu was not charged to court for trafficking in narcotics, he was nonetheless indicted for laundering proceeds of drug trafficking being financial transactions forfeitable to the United States Government.

(i) Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu opted for settlement so that he would not forfeit the whole money. He would have forfeited the whole money if the mater had gone through full trial.

(j) Under the Nigerian law, it is possible to forfeit property believed to be proceeds of trafficking in narcotic drugs even if the suspect has not been convicted and is discharged by the court on technical grounds.

(k) Such a person whose property has been forfeited on grounds of being proceeds of drug trafficking will be classified as a baron or money launderer and certainly will be indexed and put on watchlist.

(l) From the above, if Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu is not the incumbent Executive Governor of Lagos State he would have been invited for interview to shed light on the facts admitted by him in this case.

The NDLEA, in a further note, said that at the time of this transaction, Tinubu was a staff of Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited, with a monthly take home pay of $2,400.

The note said that despite the amount Tinubu receives, he completed a credit application for a loan of $8,000 to buy a car on January 6, 1990.

He reportedly said in the application that his only source of income was from his job with Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited.

The note said that on November 20, 1990, one Abiodun Agbele, whom Tinubu said is known to him, was arrested after selling one ounce of white heroin to an undercover agent for $7,000.

Agbele was described as an agent of Mueez A. Akande in the distribution of heroin in the United States.

The note added, “Interrogation of the said Agbele and further investigations revealed the identity of the other individuals, including relatives who have worked for Akande with various duties in the distribution organisation. One of these individuals has been identified by the investigation as Bola Tinubu.

“Governor Tinubu did not file any document to explain the source of money totalling over 1.4 million dollars which was traced to his acount which was clearly above his means of income.

“Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu was in the habit of using different residential addresses for different transactions apparently not to leave traces.”

In its conclusion, the NDLEA said of Tinubu, “Even though he was not charged to court, he had to compromise the case. Otherwise, he would have lost the whole money,

“It is pertinent to note that the funds held by Citi bank which was released to Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the action filed against these funds held in the said accounts was dismissed with prejudice. This in effect means the case has not been closed and could be reopened at any time by the United States Government.”

Highly placed diplomatic sources told the Nigerian Compass yesterday that the quizzing of Tinubu last month in the United States of America was as a result of the fact that the case against him was not yet closed.

The source said, “Even if today Tinubu decides to visit the United States again, he would be questioned.

“His crime is not one that can be swept under the carpet just like that.

“The usual suspicion by the United States and other countries is that once you have a criminal record, you must be monitored properly in order to forestall you committing the same crime again.”

John A. Nordberg of the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, ordered the forfeiture of the huge sums, found in 10 of Tinubu’s accounts, believed to be proceeds of illicit drug trade.

The court, in the order given on October 4, 1993, said the drug deal, specifically in white heroin, involved Tinubu; his wife, Oluremi; and three of his family members.

The accounts from which the funds were seized included First Heritage Bank (263226700), Citi International Bank (39483134, 39483396, 4650279566, 00400200, 39936404, 39936383, 52050-89451952, 52050-89451952 and 52050-89451953).

According to a Special Agent of the United States Criminal Investigation Service, Kevin Moss, the DEA became involved in the investigation of a white heroin network operating in Chicago, Illinois (where Tinubu alleged he got a university certificate, which became a source of controversy while he was in office) and Hammond, Indiana in 1988.

Cocaine, heroin, guns and other paraphernalia used for running the drug cartel were recovered by the investigators.

The affidavit added, “The investigation disclosed that an individual known as Lee Andrew Edwards was a source of white heroin. Edwards is currently incarcerated for attempting to murder a federal agent while the agent was executing a search warrant.

“Source A provided reliable information about Lee Andrew Edwards including the identity of a telephone number” and huge profits that Agbele admitted “he often wired to bank accounts on behalf of Akande.”

Agbele, Moss said, “controlled the operation of the white heroin distribution network from Nigeria in conjunction with other individuals in Nigeria and the United States. Much of the business, at the time the operation flourished, was conducted by telephone, although, according to Agbele, Akande occasionally travelled to the United States under an assumed name to retrieve portions of the drug profits.

“During the course of the investigation, DEA agents learned that in November 1986, Akande completed a lease application for an apartment on which he listed his employment as an account representative for Globe-Link International. Akande listed his address as 7504 South Stewart Avenue, Chicago, Illinois and a former address as 7527 North Sheridan Road also in Chicago. On the application, Akande listed ,  as his spouse and his current landlord was identified as Christmas Schaffer.

“Further investigation by DEA disclosed that Agbele also completed a lease application for an apartment located at 4050 W. 115th Street, Chicago, Illinois. In the application, Agbele stated that he was employed by Globe-Link as a sales representative. The investigators have confirmed that Akande maintained an apartment in this complex.

“This investigation has disclosed the identity of other individuals, including relatives, who have worked for Akande with various duties in the distribution organisation. One of these individuals has been identified by the investigation as Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“According to bank records from the First Heritage Bank, Country Club Hills, Illinois, Tinubu opened an individual money market account and a “NOW” account in December 1989. In the application, Tinubu stated that his address was 704 South Stewart, Chicago, Illinois. This is the same address used previously by Akande and Globe-Link. Upon opening this account, Tinubu deposited $1,000 in traveller’s cheque.

“Bank records disclosed that five days after the account was opened, on January 4, 1990, $80,000 was deposited into the NOW account at First Heritage Bank by wire transfer through First Chicago from Banc One Houston. The transaction was completed at the direction of Akande who resided at 7930 Corporate Drive. Akande previously used this address. Further, the investigation disclosed through a review of bank records that an individual named Akande had three accounts at Banc One.

“According to bank employees, when Tinubu came to First Heritage Bank in December 1989 to open the accounts, he was introduced to them by Akande who at that time maintained an account at the bank.

“According to bank records, Tinubu also opened a joint checking account in his name and the name of his wife. The wife previously opened a joint bank account also at this bank with Akande, , the wife of Akande.

http://news.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=448&z=12

I dont doubt it.

bola tinube-ex drug baron
ibori-ex credit car fraudster and convicted criminal
the late honourable ibekwe-419
wife of a known 419 kingpin ajudua-an honourable

e.t.c e.t.c tinubu is just one serpent in the nest of serpents,they r qall the same thing

Why did the US close their eyes on his activities since they come down hard on drug dealers?

unlike us,a criminal is presumed innocent untill adjudged guilty in a court of his peers,and he wads smart enough to cover his tracks,im just sceptical about any news that emanates from either the nation or compass as gbenga daniel and tinubu r both using it as a slanging tool rather than objective news reporting

a crime committed in '89 and we get the juicy gist 20years later after the man was allowed to rule Lagos for 8years!!!

the information is worthless now.

as for the veracity of the story,we know that the richest people in Nigeria make their money either as corrupt leaders or as fraudulent conmen.

ki ni big deal?

@Posters
Don't be decieved at all! I am very ashamed of Nigeria Journalists! Tinubu owns The Nation Newspaper while The Nigeria Compass is owned by Otunba Daniel, the governor of Ogun. What is at stake is political war for the soul of the West and the two papers have been fighting proxy war for their masters. I am not saying that Tinubu is guilty or innocent but shame on the so-called journalists at The Compass for not asking Tinubu or his lawyer for their defence . The story was filed by reporters because the editor knew lawyers will soon knock on his door. If the editor was so sure of his facts, a senior staff writer name would have been used. I am trained journalist but I am truly ashamed that some journalists have sold their souls to wicked politicians IN THIS COUNTRY

aren't they all criminals
some are selling drugs,others are selling oil

aren't they all criminals
some are selling drugs,others are selling oil

Abi ooo.

This is not a news anymore.
We all know the drug dealers and criminals among us.

We

all know the drug dealers and criminals among us

who are the we?

him.

We Nigerians.

We Nigerians

dong hide under this we nigerians ,name names if you know any .

Your guvnor in Ogun State is one.
You asked for names and there you go

Your guvnor in Ogun State is one

never been a fan of the manna, but i heard he was into liftws and other MOVEMENTS though.

was is a drug baron, sooooooo, pls free d guy jo, if u knw wat ur father did in the past, u will fucking keep quiet,

as is a drug baron, sooooooo, pls free d guy jo, if u knw wat ur father did in the past, u will fucking keep quiet

can we be specific pls.,

Leave 'oju yo bo' alone jare!
Itz al 'past tense' nau iznt it?

Itz al 'past tense' nau iznt it?

the point is its not past tense, 8 people have have been killed in ogun over the present palaver.

Tinubu

The credibility of our politicians are sometimes questionable.

MrCrackles: Chei, i always knew that bespactacled fella was dodgy!

Nawa O

Ibori shoplifter
Tinubu drug baron

OBJ sex addict

Who next?!!!!

yeah so? most easterners are too

Bump

Imagine

MrCrackles:
Chei, i always knew that bespactacled fella was dodgy!

Nawa O

Ibori shoplifter

Tinubu drug baron

OBJ sex addict

Who next?!!!!

Dapo Abiodun Credit card fraud

Peter Obi Drug dealer and tax fraud