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Battle to unveil Tinubu’s drug record, true identity rages in US court

Published

10 months ago

July 19, 2023

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Battle to unveil Tinubu’s drug record, true identity rages in US court

President Bola Tinubu’s alleged criminal and immigration records in possession of the United States will not be released until 2026, the country’s authorities have said, according to court documents.

The US State Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation cited ‘unusual circumstances’ for its decision not to release the records to the public.

Following a freedom of information request, the US authorities said even if they were to release the records, it would be at least until January 2026.

A civil lawsuit has now been filed over the matter before Judge Beryl Howell of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C.

Aaron Greenspan, an American public disclosure activist, had filed a request to the FBI, State Department, Department of Treasury, and Drug Enforcement Administration, among federal and local agencies, seeking an urgent release of Tinubu’s immigration records.

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The filings came as Tinubu maintained in court that he did not commit any crime during his decades-long residency in the US.

Tinubu also affirmed ownership of his identity, despite strong indications that he might have changed names and education records in the past.

Tinubu’s real identity and education records reportedly contain omissions and contradictions that he was said not to have explained to the public.

For instance, the President had said under oath to the electoral office, INEC, while seeking to be Lagos governor in 1999, that he attended the prestigious University of Chicago.

The university has since disowned Tinubu.

Another American school, Chicago State University, confirmed one Bola Tinubu attended the school but did not say whether it was the Nigerian president.

A report said documents from the school showed that a person bearing Bola Tinubu, who attended the school in the 1970s, was a female.

The State Department is believed to have records of whether or not the person who applied for a US visa and travelled as Bola Tinubu in the 1970s is the same person running Nigeria today.

“This office will not be able to respond within the 20 days provided by the statute due to unusual circumstances,” the State Department said in a May 15, 2023 letter to Greenspan.

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Previously on August 4, 2022, the FBI sent a message to Greenspan, saying: “Please be advised that ‘unusual circumstances’ apply to the processing of your request.”

But on March 22, 2023, the FBI said it would try to release all documents relating to Tinubu in its possession, but not until January 2026 at the earliest. Other agencies, including the Department of Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration, also said they would not release the documents on the same grounds.

The FBI also said Greenspan “failed to demonstrate that the requested information is in the public interest.”

But the activist promptly responded by detailing how Tinubu’s alleged drug forfeiture case in Chicago drew the most eyes to his organisation’s website over the past year.

The website has over 15 million records.

All the agencies have now been summoned to appear in court to show course why records relating to a Nigerian president were deemed unusual and inconsequential to be released to the public.

On July 17, Assistant US Attorney Jared Littman entered an appearance as the lawyer representing all the agencies, and promptly requested a delay until August 28, 2023 to file a response to the lawsuit, which was instituted on June 12, 2023.

Battle to unveil Tinubu’s drug record, true identity rages in US court

(With PG report)

Related Topics:drug record Featured Tinubu US court

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After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

Published

7 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Trends Admin

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja

After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

The Army Headquarters on Saturday said it has ordered investigations into allegations of overcrowded cells in its barracks and poor feeding of detained personnel following a viral video showing some detained soldiers protesting.

A statement by Major Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, titled, “Army’s Response to Viral Audio Visual Footage of Soldiers Protesting Overcrowded Cells, Poor Feeding” made this known.

It reads, “The Army headquarters has taken note of a report and audiovisual recording circulating on social media produced by some of its personnel held in custody at the 8 Division Garrison detention facility.

“Undoubtedly, the Sokoto barracks detention facility incident is quite unfortunate and an embarrassment to the sound administration efforts of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to say the least, and in line with his leadership style.

“The COAS has instituted an appropriate investigation into the incident to determine whether it is an isolated or widespread situation in similar detention facilities.

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“While the service regrets and has gleaned some lessons from the incident, it will, however, not condone the manner the inmates expressed their purported grievance.

“Mutiny and conduct prejudicial to service order are grievous misconducts, and this very incident epitomises such.

“As such, as Army, on the one side, goes ahead to implement the COAS directive to look into the state of all NA detention facilities, as detainees’ lives also matter, the Service shall not shy away from appropriately sanctioning the soldiers involved in the unruly behaviour in its Sokoto detention facility for failing to exhaust all available options to channel their complaints to the appropriate authorities.

“And if it was discovered they did and nothing was done, necessary administrative actions will be taken against anyone found to have failed to discharge his/her duties effectively.

“While the Service is mindful of its subjective oversight engagements by statutory bodies, it remains primarily a responsible, self-regulating professional body.

“As such, the Service remains committed to ensuring that everyone, even those found guilty of aiding terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits, and are awaiting confirmation of their sentencing, as it has been discovered in the Sokoto case is accorded a relatively decent life until their judgment is confirmed and executed.

“This commitment underscores the NA’s dedication to upholding professional standards and maintaining a just and fair system.

“The NA appreciates all Nigerians for their concern and support as well as pledge to remain focused on its drive to defeating security challenges facing the nation in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies.”

After viral video, Army launches probe into crowded soldiers’ cells, poor feeding

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Minister inspects Nigeria-assembled CNG buses, says transport costs to drop

Published

8 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Trends Admin

CNG buses

Minister inspects Nigeria-assembled CNG buses, says transport costs to drop

Ahead of the roll-out of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered mass transit buses meant for commuting nationwide, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Olawale Edun, has inspected the assembly plant where the vehicles are being put together.

He expressed optimism that the buses when they hit the road would ease transportation and lead to a substantial slash in fares.

He expressed this view during his visit to the JET Motor Company Assembly Plant in Lagos.

The CNG buses are being mass produced under the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi) as part of measures to reduce the high cost of living and curb inflation after the removal of fuel subsidy.

The Federal Government has promised to launch the first set of the CNG buses and tricycles by the end of this month (May).

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, quoted the minister as saying, “I have come to see the CNG buses that Nigerians are asking about. I have seen them. “I have tested them and driven them. I have seen them being assembled. The benefits will soon be available to Nigerians.”

Edun highlighted the significant cost savings that CNG buses offer compared to their petrol-powered counterparts.

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“Two critical aims will be achieved. Whereas it costs about N55,000 to fill a 15-20 seater bus with petrol, it will cost between N12-15,000 to fill a CNG bus of the same capacity. This is three times, if not four times less.

“This is a huge savings that will help reduce transport costs and at the same time help reduce inflation,” he said.

According to him, the PCNGi is all about mass transit that is affordable, and praised JET’s employment of local talents in the assembly of the vehicles.

The Chairman and founder of JET, Chidi Ajaere, took the minister round the assembly plant during the visit.

Also on hand were the CEO of JET motor company, Engr Derek Ewelukwa, and other members of the JET team such as Sanjay Rupani of the Technical Development Department and Ebimo Ofongo, the plant manager.

Present also were Tosin Coker, Commercial Director at the PCNGi, and Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Development and Design Council.

Ajaere commended President Bola Tinubu for his initiative in promoting local production of the CNG vehicles and the entire PCNGi team’s resolve to make the project a success.

JET was established in 2018 to build Electric Vehicles (EV) vans, pickups and CNG/Petrol buses tailored to meet Nigeria’s unique transportation needs.

Minister inspects Nigeria-assembled CNG buses, says transport costs to drop

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NSCDC arrests man for allegedly defiling 4-year-old girl in Ekiti

Published

8 hours ago

May 12, 2024

Trends Admin

NSCDC arrests man for allegedly defiling 4-year-old girl in Ekiti

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti state command, has arrested a 27-year-old man, Ojo Afolabi, for allegedly defiling a four-year-old girl.

The suspect, who lives on Olujoda Street, Ado-Ekiti, was arrested after the mother of the girl made a formal complaint at the office of the NSCDC in Ado-Ekiti.

The four-year-old victim, while narrating the incident, alleged that the suspect removed her underwear and had carnal knowledge of her sometime in late April, 2024.

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The mother of the girl, who spoke to journalists, also said that her daughter informed her about the incident.

However, the suspect denied the allegation, saying he was being indicted unjustly.

The NSCDC spokesperson in the state, Tolu Afolabi, said a medical report had confirmed that the hymen of the girl had been broken.

Afolabi stated that investigations were ongoing.