₦airaland Forum

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

Abi ooo.

Yar'Adua is my man and Madueke also seems to be OK , but this situation wasn't handled appropriately.
We must note that Ambassador Oluwole is a diplomatic official of the highest rank that represents Nigeria in United States.
An administration shouldn't allow personal conflict between 2 federal government officials to compromise our national sovereignty.
From the presented information, it would have been better to invite Oluwole back home immediately and attempt to iron things out between the 2.
In my view, I do not think it's proper to sack one based on the information given by the other one.

And absolutely, we need not to expose our dirty laundry to the world.
Nigerian leaders should recognize the fact that they are all representing a country and not their individual villages.

These folks from the bottom to the top are killing poor Nigeria.

Irrespective of how yaradua handled it, what if the man is innocent?. Should he be punished for a crime he didn't commit?. I am suspecting yaradua and madueke cooked that allegation up to put him aside. Let's wait and see whom they'll use to replace him.

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

Oyinlola deserves curses for keeping quiet when PDP thugs supporting him went on a killing rampage. Otumorkpo will deal with him if he doesn't repent.  Tongue

I am composing curses for Maurice Iwu as we spea

He didn't have control over that issue. Should he be held responsible for the actions of irresponsible adults who may come from foreign states?

Why is Funmi soft spoken these days? Where is the tiger in you?
Oops, my bad, I forgot the tribal marks you have was as a result of shark abi tiger attack.

OYB is using every available force in his powers including nairaland thugs, almajiris etc and to subdue this femme fatale. That's the Nigerian system, the only place where women are subdued because they spoke their mind or would not allow a he goat to hump them. He's a bloody chauvinist and sexist .

Ok; I thought they pay for it monthly. I may try it out because it could be cheaper than calling cards.

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

No, I think you have to pay for that one but it depends on how often you call Nigeria because in the long run, it may not be cheaper necessarily. How much do you pay for it in a month?

abeg just leave omosexy alone
afterall she is living a fulfilled life,
happy home,lovely kids and the most important one is her caring,loving and understanding husband. so wat else

Who told you she's living a fulfilled life?. Husband, children and successful career are not part of the package but not the whole. One part missing can render the whole package useless. Omotola talks too much and part of it is because she's an uneducated braggart. Celebrities like Joke Silva has been there before her and whenever you read her interviews, she's right on the money and makes accurate statement. Telling a journalist that you were dating other men while dating your husband is foolish because it makes you an infidel. She should count herself lucky because if it were in America, the media would've made it look as if she's sleeping with the whole world. It seems most of us here do not understand the dictionary meaning of dating.


Dating is to go out with a partner for romantic purposes. So, how can she be going out with more than one partner for romantic purposes simultaneously if she's not a cheat.

Her husband comes off as a pervert too because for a 26yr old man to be dating a 16 yr old is perversion at its height. It's like they were made for each other.

No, am talking of skype-skype.

Even if he is saying the truth?. Is that how we dish out our own justice in Nigeria?

Yes, I do that all the time.

Can't read all the post but i thought the miss yarn was in a letter he wrote to OJO. We don't know who to believe now.

I think they want to take him out but they should make sure he's replaced with another Yoruba man because everything was shared according to quota.

Skype is free my dear. You are wasting your money.

uumm, what does that mean?

Roflmao, it means you want to call your governor for free by using Skype.

I called him a tribalist is inaccurate. In addition, the reference to the defeat of "Biafra" was completely taken out of context

If he didn't call madueke a tribalist, why was Biafra mentioned in their discussion and what is this out of context claim?

Recall: Correspondence with Maduekwe distorted, says Rotimi
By Bunmi Oni, 02.19.2009


Recalled Nigeria Ambassador to the United States, Brig. Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (rtd), has said the account given by Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe of the correspondence between him and the minister where he allegedly referred to Maduekwe as a tribalist is inaccurate.


He also said the reference to the defeat of Biafra in the correspondence was completely out of context.


https://nigeriaworld.com/images/news/big/embassies-missions/oluwole-rotimi-former-nigerian-ambassador-to-US-plus-building.jpg

Rotimi reacted for the first time on the altercation between him and the minister, for which President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua approved his recall home, in a statement he posted on the website.

The ambassador said he had no intention to cast any aspersion on any ethnic community in Nigeria, having worked and continue to work for the unity of the country.

President Yar’Adua had approved Rotimi’s recall for “gross insubordination.”

Rotimi’s recall had stemmed from his running disagreement with Maduekwe over issues bordering on activities of the mission, policy, protocol and hierarchy.

The disagreement that was said to have started last year resulted in a series of correspondence between Maduekwe and Rotimi, culminating in a letter written by the latter in which he allegedly called the minister a tribalist.

He also reportedly boasted: “I have dealt with people like you in the past. I was the Adjutant -General of the Nigerian army that thoroughly defeated your ragtag Biafran army.”

Maduekwe who was piqued by the contents of the letter, particularly the reference to the Biafran War, had formally complained to the President in a memo attaching Rotimi’s letter.

Maduekwe had in the letter to the President stated: “This man (Rotimi) has no temperament to be an ambassador of Nigeria in our most important mission.

“This is a strategic assessment of the situation. Anyone who has such a disposition may not be able to handle the Nigerian embassy in Washington, which is deemed in Nigerian diplomatic circles as a strategic and sensitive mission.

“The recommendation that he be recalled has to do with his capacity to run the place. It is not personal.”

Three days ago, the amabassador was given 44 days, around end of March, to return to Nigeria.

Rotimi’s statement entitled, “Ambassador Oluwole Rotimi Statement” read: “I wish to acknowledge receipt of the message of the Honourable  Minister of Foreign Affairs conveying the directive of His Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Musa YarAdua, (GCFR) recalling me as his  principal representative in the  United States of America. I will dutifully comply with this order.

“However, I wish to also seize this opportunity to correct some misconception and distortion attributed to the Honorable Minister Chief Ojo Maduekwe by the media.

“The little snippet of information released to the press stating that in the exchange of correspondence between us, I called him a tribalist is inaccurate. In addition, the reference to the defeat of "Biafra" was completely taken out of context.

“Moreover, I would like to assure all patriotic Nigerians that I have no intention to cast any aspersion on any ethnic community in Nigeria. I have always believed in and worked for and will continue to work for the unity of Nigeria even when I am not in the public service.

“I have had the privilege and honor to serve under distinguished and gallant senior officers of different ethnic backgrounds in my service to the Nigerian Army. In addition, the God Almighty has blessed me with children whose mother is half Igbo and half Yoruba.

“Finally, let me state with all my heart that this distortion is deeply regretted and I honestly apologize to anyone who has felt slighted in any form.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/feb/19/211.html

Revealed: UK toxic wastes traced to Alaba Market
By Akinsanmi Gboyega with agency report, 02.19.2009


Potentially dangerous toxic wastes from the United Kingdom (UK) have been traced to Alaba International Market and Apapa, all in Lagos state.


The wastes, according to Sky News investigation, comprise abandoned TV set, computer and electrical appliances, which are ordinarily meant to be recycled

The report said the wastes “are traced to Lagos port inside the container. We finally managed to track the television down to a shipping container.”

At Alaba Market, the report added that youngsters aged between 15 and 20 were seen scavenging for the valuable copper contained in the appliances.

It stated: “Because of the toxic nature of some of the components, the appliances should be recycled under strict conditions here in the United Kingdom.”

Commenting on the development, a UK-based non-governmental organisation, Greenpeace, confirmed that the young people working on such dumps often break apart the electronic items for parts, but in doing so are exposed to poisonous chemicals like mercury, lead and cadmium.

“We basically managed to track a TV going from the UK allegedly as second-hand equipment to Nigeria. When in fact we knew, because we gutted it, this TV, before it left the UK, we took all the insides out and put in a tracker device, which enabled us to track this old TV from the UK, through the recycler to Nigeria.

“Tonnes of toxic waste from municipal dumps in the West are being dumped illegally in countries like Nigeria and Ghana. Hundreds of thousands of broken items like TVs and computers are being sold to dealers on the pretext of re-use. Under EU law, such household appliances must be dismantled or recycled,” the charity group stated.

But Sky News reported that after being informed that e-waste collected by Hampshire County Council is being sent to West Africa, it teamed up with Greenpeace to investigate the claim.

According to Sky News : “Our team found an old television, noted its barcode and product number and, with the help of a qualified engineer, removed a vital working part, rendering it useless. We then inserted a satellite tracker into the television before taking it to the council's recycling centre.

“The idea was to follow every step of the TV's journey across the world via the internet before pinpointing the exact coordinates of its final destination. Filming undercover, we dropped our television off at a recycling site in Basingstoke which is managed for Hampshire County Council by a firm called Hopkins.

“They in turn sell appliances to a company called BJ Electronics. BJ bought our old television. We then followed the television to the BJ Electronics warehouse in Walthamstow, where BJ claim they test every appliance before selling them on to other companies for export.

“Our tracker showed our broken television was eventually loaded onto a shipping container at BJ's warehouse then taken to Tilbury where it was exported,” the report said.

Greenpeace Campaigner, Mr. Erik Albertson, told Sky News Online: "What you see around us could be the remains of one of your old computers or a TV set. The problem with things like this is every now and then, a couple of times a week, they set them on fire and the contents of the chemicals will cause dioxins to escape.

"Dioxins are well known as one of the toxic substances on earth. They're both carcinogenic and cause endocrine disruption." Back in the UK, we told Hampshire County Council, Hopkins and BJ Electronics of our findings.

Hopkins refused to comment. BJ said they had done nothing wrong and were adamant they comply with all the necessary tests. Hampshire Council issued the following statement: "We are extremely disappointed to learn of the potential findings of the investigation.

Hampshire Council issued the following statement: "We are extremely disappointed to learn of the potential findings of the investigation.

"Our primary aim has always been to ensure that waste electrical items are reused wherever possible, and that only functional TVs and monitors are sent abroad. We do not condone the exportation of televisions that cannot be reused.

"If, after our inquiry, it is found that our clear requirements are being compromised by inadequate controls, we will take immediate action and we will publish our findings,” the Council stated.

As Hampshire County Council carries out its own inquiry, Greenpeace has called on manufacturers of electronic goods to ensure they put in place take back schemes, so that the unwanted appliances are disposed of responsibly, instead of being dumped on poorer countries.
http://odili.net/news/source/2009/feb/19/212.html

Just because your states are doing badly is not enough reason to rain abuses on my governor.

Osun Wetin? Abeg no state in Nigeria should be exempt from the deadly barrage of telephone curses. . . Grin except the states with 5 hr water supply/day and ''uninterrupted'' (7 hrs a day by Nigerian standards) electricity. . .which is NONE. Correct me if I am wrong.

We still fair better than others to an extent, trust me.

We tried leaving everything to ''God'' including NEPA and Security, that didn't yield much result . . . let the curses pour down. . . shower them with unprintable %$#@! from dusk to dawn. . . From Sokoto to Imo, From Delta to Ogun

Minus Osun State. We are doing well for ourselves sha.

Tory

Why don't they have direct numbers to Asorock because i got some things to say to them on the issue of tribalism.

I believe him.