₦airaland Forum

OXYZ:
Around 1996,when I was a member of Justice Forum,Tinubu used to finance our activities despite being out of the country.

With proceeds of drugs before he upgraded to looting Lagosians with bullion vans

Francis5:
04.27.155:18 AM ET

Nigeria’s Next Leader’s Ties to a Heroin Ring

General Muhammed Buhari’s political partner is a former bagman for two heroin traffickers. But that’s just business as usual in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s election last month was celebrated as an unlikely victory for democracy in an African country with a tenuous record of free and fair representation. But the man most responsible for midwifing General Muhammed Buhari’s ballot triumph over current President Goodluck Jonathan has a spotty CV. Former Lagos provincial governor Bola Tinubu, affectionately nicknamed the Jagaban, is today seen as a shrewd if not “deeply Machiavellian” Svengali in Nigeria’s politics as well as the architect of a hugely successful anti-corruption platform. But 20 years ago he had to forfeit nearly half a million dollars to the U.S. Treasury Department after being named as an accomplice in a white heroin-trafficking and money-laundering ring that stretched from West Africa to the U.S. Midwest.

Although his case has been bandied about the Nigerian press for years, Tinubu’s involvement in a federal drug and racketeering investigation waged jointly by the DEA, FBI, and IRS has gone unreported elsewhere, even after his ascendance to Karl Rove-like status last month. A recent gauzy Financial Times profile of him, for instance, neglected to mention that two decades ago Tinubu was identified as a bagman for two Nigerian heroin movers who operated out of Chicago and Hammond, Indiana. They were Adegboyega Mueez Akande and Abiodun Agbele, Akande’s nephew, who was exposed to law enforcement after selling white heroin first to Lee Andrew Edwards, another dealer later jailed for trying to murder a federal agent, and then to an undercover cop.

In a 1993 court docket from the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois, which The Daily Beast obtained from Sahara Reporters, a Nigeria-focused news outlet, IRS Special Agent Kevin Moss said that Akande had run the white heroin ring in the late 1980s until 1990, when he handed off the U.S arm of the business to his nephew, who had arrived in 1988. Akande then returned to Nigeria but continued to oversee the operation from abroad with the help of others at home and in the United States, including his relatives. One of the individuals identified in his cartel by Moss was Tinubu, then a Chicago State University-educated accountant working as a treasurer for Mobil Oil Nigeria Ltd, a subsidiary of energy giant Mobil Oil, which was still a few years shy of its famous merger with Exxon in 1999.

In the biography section of his official website, Tinubu is described as having emigrated to the United States in 1975 “in search of the proverbial Golden Fleece with a heart brimming with unrelenting determination to achieve his visions.” This is certainly one way to describe his tenure stateside.

In 1989, Moss said in an affidavit, Tinubu established an individual money market account, into which he deposited $1,000 in traveler’s checks, and a negotiable order of withdrawal account (NOW) at First Heritage Bank in Country Club Hills, Illinois. The address Tinubu gave the bank was the same as the listed headquarters of Globe-Link International, the front company owned by Akande and his relatives.

“There’s a trend of various Nigerian politicians at the highest levels involved in dodgy business deals around the world, in property and cash.”

Bank employees told Moss that Akande had personally introduced them to Tinubu in December 1989 when who also opened a joint checking account with his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, who already kept a joint account with Akande’s wife at First Heritage. Five days after the NOW account was opened, $80,000 was wired into it from a bank in Houston maintained by one of Akande’s relatives. Tinubu would later use the NOW account to buy a $10,000 Certificate of Deposit for an $8,000 car loan, listing Akande as his cousin on the application.

At the time, Tinubu’s take home as a Mobil Oil Nigeria executive was a mere $2,400 a month and he claimed not to have any other revenue streams. Yet he still managed to deposit $661,000 into his individual money market account in 1990 and then another $1,216,500 a year later. He also opened more accounts with Citibank in its worldwide personal banking unit, transferring over half a million dollars from his First Heritage money market account into one of them in early 1991.

Mobil Oil Nigeria told Moss that Tinubu’s role at the company never involved transferring large sums of money between banks and that it didn’t keep deposits in any institutions in the south suburbs of Chicago, where First Heritage was based. Moreover, although Tinubu moved back to Nigeria in 1983, he neglected to file U.S. income tax returns after 1984 despite having sizable, interest-generating deposits in American banks. All of this was enough to persuade a magistrate judge of the Northern District to issue seizure warrants for Tinubu’s First Heritage and Citibank accounts. Collectively, more than $1.4 million belonging to the Nigerian was confiscated.

Tinubu gave differing accounts for his wealth to Moss. In one phone call from Nigeria, shortly after the U.S. Treasury seized his money, he admitted to wiring $100,000 to Akande’s Houston bank account and to receiving the $80,000 from Akande into his First Heritage account. Tinubu also said that apart from one other account in Fairfax, Virginia, he had no other money stashed in U.S. banks.

Except that there were other accounts. Citibank has a worldwide banking division known as Citibank International where Tinubu stashed an additional $550,000. He also controlled an entity called Compass Finance and Investments Company Ltd., of which Akande and Agbele were directors. Still another nexus of money transfers was uncovered by federal investigators, with cash moving from First Heritage to Citibank to Citibank International, where it wound up in Tinubu’s personal accounts and in those belonging to Compass Finance and Investments. In a follow-up exchange with law enforcement officers, Tinubu changed his story. Just days after conceding that he’d sent and received money to and from Akande, he insisted that he had no financial or business dealings with Akande or Agbele.

There’s no evidence that Tinubu was ever indicted for any crime. He eventually settled with the district court, turning over $460,000 of the seized $1.4 million, with the remainder released back to him. The Beast tried repeatedly to contact Marsha McClellan, the U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case, but was unsuccessful.

“I’m not surprised at all,” said Virginia Comolli, a specialist on Nigeria and author of Boko Haram: Nigeria’s Islamist Insurgency. “There’s a trend of various Nigerian politicians at the highest levels involved in dodgy business deals around the world, in property and cash. Even ones who seem fairly clean turn out to have some dark histories.” The perfect case in point is Tinubu’s political project and new president-elect of Nigeria, General Muhammed Buhari, who in 1983 helped overthrow a democratically elected government in a military coup d’etat on the grounds that the government was undisciplined and corrupt. “He resorted to brutal methods, beating up people for not queuing properly and imposing limitations on the media,” Comolli said. “I think a lot of the votes Buhari got were anti-Jonathan rather than pro-Buhari.”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/27/nigeria-s-next-leader-s-ties-to-a-heroin-ring.html

hopexter:
What does his past have to do with you?

So I shouldn't know about the past of someone that wants to be my president?

The stench of Pre 2015 election is all over the air once again

dre11:
https://www.thecable.ng/dele-alake-tinubu-not-a-pauper-before-politics-he-made-money-from-buying-stocks/amp

Dele , allow us to hear from the horse's mouth, Tinubu get mouth...

GavelSlam:
What is the pay structure?

$15 per hour

dre11:
https://www.thecable.ng/dele-alake-tinubu-not-a-pauper-before-politics-he-made-money-from-buying-stocks/amp

My friend go and sit down. How much were u paid for this? Show us his businesses, u r talking about blue chip stocks. U think Nigerians are stupid

Corridon:
So I shouldn't know about the past of someone that wants to be my president?

no mind that one. Baba don give am agbado, cassava and yam

hopexter:
What does his past have to do with you?

But you want us to look at his part record of developing Lagos and not his source of wealth

I thought Dele was more intelligent than this...

SmartPolician:
Someone shared on Nairaland that Tinubu made millions of dollars from serving as accountant of an oil major in the United States.

Tinubu supporters should have some decency coz some of us regulars on Nairaland work for American companies from our Nigerian homes and understand their pay structure.

Now, Dele Alake is saying that he trades stocks. Come on, this thing is just ridiculous!

What is ridiculous about it? From the little I read about him , he got some bonus from doing a job in Saudi Arabia and invested in stocks. I also read he invested in Apple. So assuming in 2001 in he invested a mere $1000 in Apple, today that amount will be worth nearly $500K. So nothing ridiculous about it, considering the fact that he will continue to receive dividends in dollars and that is just one stock. He if had invested the same amount in Amazon it will now be worth $250k. Exchanging this to Naira and we have a very rich man.

OXYZ:
Around 1996,when I was a member of Justice Forum,Tinubu used to finance our activities despite being out of the country.

From the proceeds of cocaine dealings

Corridon:
Another tale by moonlight. Same way they told us he is a major shareholder in Manchester united. Tinubu is a mysterious man that no one knows about his pasts.

Anyone who cannot at least show one legitimate source of income is surely involved in something strong. He doesnt want any business tied to him because he's not clean. That's a fact.

madridguy:
Can you screen shots their response?

Tinubu made his trillions from Manchester United shares

I think alake meant stockfish, ie okporoko or panla

Mr Tinubu should explain his role in drug proceed linked to his account and why he forfeited the said amount in the USA. We don't want a spokesperson to speak for him.

I still wonder why he's yet to comment on this!!??

princeade86:
Stocks like coke abi

Sole mkpụrụ mmiri distributor in the whole sub Sahara Africa.

zztop:
What is ridiculous about it? From the little I read about him , he got some bonus from doing a job in Saudi Arabia and invested in stocks. I also read he invested in Apple. So assuming in 2001 in he invested a mere $1000 in Apple, today that amount will be worth nearly $500K. So nothing ridiculous about it, considering the fact that he will continue to receive dividends in dollars and that is just one stock. He if had invested the same amount in Amazon it will now be worth $250k. Exchanging this to Naira and we have a very rich man.

It is possible as you explained, but in this case you are smart and not a kid to believe the "story" by alake.

lagos state stocks

BABANGBALI:
no mind that one. Baba don give am agbado, cassava and yam

Baba even added coke join

7arrows:
Anyone who cannot at least show one legitimate source of income is surely involved in something strong. He doesnt want any business tied to him because he's not clean. That's a fact.

Gbam.

Corridon:
So I shouldn't know about the past of someone that wants to be my president?

U cannot support Tinubu and not look very stupid. No matter how hard u try.

Corridon:
Baba even added coke join

all of dem go suffer in 2023

7arrows:
U cannot support Tinubu and not look very stupid. No matter how hard u try.

End of discussion.

“There is nothing in the world more shameful than establishing one’s self on lies and fables

Let Tinubu speak for himself please. He is the owner of his own history and story. Nigerians, who he intends to preside over, have the right to scrutinize him. He has the responsibility of accountability to the people. Those who defend him and his history struggle a lot.

It is not in doubt the connection of Atiku to Intels or American university. The ownership of NEXT by Obi is not in question. The ownership of Sahara reporters by Sowore is not in doubt. We need to know about Tinubu and Kwakwanso. We need to know about our candidates.

That’s an appropriate thing to do.

BABANGBALI:
all of dem go suffer in 2023

Same way dem de suffer Buhari effects today.

The funniest part of the interview was where he failed to mention the owner of ALPHABETA. He dodged the question seun threw at him. Seun asked again and Alake said he's not interested in who owns what but the question is, is Alpha Beta not delivering on its duties?

He said anyone who's interested in knowing the owner of Alpha Beta should approach CAC. What a joke....and they want us to vote such a highly controversial man? LMAO

Do you think they will hear or listening. Their hair drums are blocked

BABANGBALI:
$15 per hour

Minimum wage.

hopexter:
What does his past have to do with you?

Is that how you recruit workers- no care for their past, so that they can loot & wreck your business if they are incompetent rogues like Thiefnuibu?
How does one deliver a person afflicted with Stockholm syndrome? Do you know

itubaba001:
Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria, has been ranking as one of the worst places to live in the world for the nine straight years, a BusinessDay analysis shows.

Data from the 2019 Global Liveability Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the world’s leader in global business intelligence, shows the city has been within the range of 137th-139th position out of a total of 140 cities in the world from year 2011-2019.

Last year, Nigeria overtook India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty, thereby becoming the world capital of poverty, according to the Brookings Institute. This year, the number has risen to 91.6 million from 87 million in June 2018. Every minute, six Nigerians enter the group of extremely poor people, according to the World Poverty Clock.

https://businessday.ng/uncategorized/article/lagos-ranks-amongst-worst-cities-to-live-in-for-nine-straight-years/

eluquenson:
REVISITING SOME OF THE LATEEF JAKANDE'S GOVERNMENT ACHIEVEMENTS FROM OCTOBER 1979 TO DECEMBER 1983 (FOUR YEARS AND 3 MONTHS) IN LAGOS STATE

* His government built the current Lagos State Secretariat which houses all the state ministries as well as the popular round house hitherto occupied by all subsequent governors of the state.

* His government built the Lagos State House of Assembly complex.

* His government built the Lagos State Television

* His government built the Lagos Radio

* His government built Lagos State University

* His government established General Hospital in zones all over the state with assurance of free health care.

* His government established Teacher Training College and the College of Education.

* His government built low cost houses in Ijaiye, Dolphin, Oke-Afa, Ije, Abesan, Iponri, Ipaja, Abule Nla, Epe, Amuwo-Odofin, Anikantamo, Surulere, Iba, Ikorodu, Badagry, Isheri/Olowu, Orisigun etc.

* His government established the Water Management Board and Waste Disposal Board on the 18th of August, 1980.

* His government constructed the Adiyan Water Works to increase water supply in the state to 18.16 million litres per day.

* His government modernized and expanded the Iju Water Works which was first commissioned in 1915. This increased daily capacity from 159 million to 204 million litres per day.

* His government purchased and commissioned the giant car crusher equipment. The equipment was designed specifically to crush derelict vehicles in Lagos State. It had the capacity to crush 45 vehicles per day.

* His government constructed, rehabilitated and resurfaced Epe/Ijebu-Ode Road, Oba Akran Avenue, Toyin Street, Town Planning Way, Alimosho-Idimu-Egbe Road, Idimu-Iba-LASU Road, the new secretariat road and several others.

* His government constructed Victoria Island/Epe Road and thereby creating an ‘oil rig’ for Lagos State.

* His government established Asphalt Plant for the Department of Public Works.

* His government established Electricity Board for Rural Electrification with provision of street lights.

* His government modernized, expanded and commissioned Onikan Stadium in 1982.

* His government established a singular school system and ensured genuine free education in Lagos State and the beneficiaries of this policy are in different positions of eminence in the country and around the world.

* His government raised the primary schools in Lagos State to 812 with 533,001 pupils (against 605 primary schools with 434,545 pupils he met in 1979) and secondary schools to 223 with 167,629 students (against 105 schools with 107,835 students in 1979).

* His government constructed 11, 729 classrooms with the maximum of 40 children per class between March and August 1980, by 1983, he had constructed over 22,000 classrooms.

* In July 1983, two commercial passenger boats christened "Baba Kekere and Itafaji" to run the Mile 2 - Marina (CMS) route via the lagoons were inaugurated by his government to mark the official launch of the Lagos State ferry services.

* His government took over the ownership and financing of Lagos State Printing Corporation in July 1980

* His government established the first State Traffic Management Authority (Road Marshals).

* His government established small scale Industries Credit Scheme which preceded the EKO bank.

*His government established LASACO Insurance.

*His government expanded existing market and built new ones.

*His government established Traditional Medicine Board.

WHO SAYS 4 YEARS IN OFFICE IS NOT ENOUGH FOR MEANINGFUL ACHIEVEMENTS?

IT'S A FACT THAT 90% OF GOVERNORS IN NIGERIA SINCE 1999 WITH REVENUES AT THEIR DISPOSAL CANNOT BOAST OF A QUARTER OF THESE ACHIEVEMENTS EVEN WITHIN THEIR EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE.

It's easy. Go to MAN United verified page and ask. Stop behaving like a Maiduguri man.

madridguy:
Can you screen shots their response?

zztop:
What is ridiculous about it? From the little I read about him , he got some bonus from doing a job in Saudi Arabia and invested in stocks. I also read he invested in Apple. So assuming in 2001 in he invested a mere $1000 in Apple, today that amount will be worth nearly $500K. So nothing ridiculous about it, considering the fact that he will continue to receive dividends in dollars and that is just one stock. He if had invested the same amount in Amazon it will now be worth $250k. Exchanging this to Naira and we have a very rich man.

Huncle, what is ridiculous is that people tell different stories of how Tinubu makes money. They are not consistent. However, those who live in Lagos know that Tinubu steals Lagos State money.

People just keep quiet because they have given up on Nigerian politicians. Save yourself this needless calculation.