PEPT Update: Tinubu Drug Scandal Exposed by His Own Senator

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Majority Leader of the 10th Senate and a Bola Tinubu supporter, confirmed that the APC presidential candidate forfeited $460,000 from heroin trafficking in the United States.

Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, made this admission during the cross-examination at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), where Tinubu is defending his controversial victory in the last election.

What Did Bamidele Say?

Bamidele, who claimed to be a lawyer in the US, was confronted with a court order from Chicago that showed that Tinubu forfeited $460,000 as a result of proceeds from narcotics.

He agreed that he read the order and that it represented civil proceedings. He also admitted that he did not have a license to practice law in Illinois or New York.

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Here are some excerpts from his testimony:

Q | For the forfeiture of $450,000 in the account of 2nd Res, the courts made an order, which the court made as a result of proceeds from narcotics. Can you confirm?

A : Well, what is contained in the district court was a civil forfeiture and not criminal because section 981

Q : I asked you a question, it was for NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING

A. Witness starts to stammer: Yes, and the money was forfeited as civil.

Q | You aren’t an IT expert, are you?

A | I am not.

Q | Is it correct that you have not tendered any license for you to practice Law in New York?

A| Yes.

Q | All through this presidential saga, have you accessed IREV?

A | I didn’t have any reason to.

Q | Therefore, it is correct that since you haven’t accessed it, you are not in a position to say whether the results there are readable.

A | That’s incorrect.

Q | Have you read the Chicago court’s order?

A | Yes.

What Does This Mean for Tinubu?

By this admission, Bamidele has exposed Tinubu’s involvement in the drug business in the US.

This is a serious allegation that could damage his reputation and credibility as a president.

According to some sources, a case can be treated as civil if the accused is willing to cooperate with the authorities; in Nigerian parlance, it is called a “plea bargain”.

This implies that Tinubu was guilty of engaging in the drug business and, to escape conviction, opted for a soft landing by forfeiting the proceeds of the crime.

This is not the first time that Tinubu has been linked to drug-related scandals. In 1993, he was linked in a white heroin trafficking network which operated in Chicago and some parts of Indiana and led by one Adegboyega Mueez Akande between 1988 and 1993.

The source of the white heroine was identified as one Mr. Lee Andrew Edwards who was incarcerated for attempting to murder a federal agent while the agent was executing a search warrant on him.

How Will This Affect His Election Petition?

Tinubu is currently defending his election victory at the PEPT, where he is facing allegations of electoral fraud, violence, and manipulation.

His opponents, Peter Obi of LP and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, has presented evidence that shows that Tinubu did not win the majority of lawful votes cast in the election.

He has also accused Tinubu of using his influence and money to rig the election in his favor.

The PEPT is expected to deliver its judgment soon. However, with this new revelation from Bamidele, Tinubu’s chances of retaining his seat may be slim.

Will he be able to survive this scandal?

Will he be able to prove his innocence?

Will he be able to convince Nigerians that he is fit to lead them?

These are some of the questions that Nigerians are asking as they await the outcome of the PEPT.