Tinubu's case in US is civil, not criminal - Tribunal on Obi's petition

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has held that a drug-related case in which President Bola Tinubu had to forfeit money is a civil rather than a criminal case.

It thus said he and Vice President Kashim Shettma were qualified to have contested the last presidential election.

The court held that Tinubu was not disqualified by the fine imposed on him by a United States court following a civil forfeiture proceeding.

In a judgment on Wednesday in the petition by Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP), the court held that the fine imposed by the US court did not qualify as a fine for fraud or dishonesty provided in Section 137(1)(d) of the Constitution.

It added that the petitioners evidently failed to prove their case that Tinubu was disqualified by virtue of the decision of the US court, adding that Obi and the LP did not comply with the requirement of Section 249(1) and (2) of the Evidence Act in proving conviction outside the country.

It held that the US court case was in respect of a civil case, not a criminal case, addig even if it was to be a criminal case, Section 137(1)(e) of the Constitution, such conviction or fine must be within 10 years for s person to be disqualified.

The court restated its decision in the petition by the APM that Shettima engaged in the double nomination and was not disqualified from contesting the election.