Nigerians have slammed Jubril Gawat, a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on New Media.
The reaction comes after Gawat took to defending All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu after a Bloomberg article about him.
Bloomberg had shared an article titled “Graft Allegations Dog Nigeria’s Main Presidential Hopefuls”, centered of Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and BolaTinubu.
In the article, it was stated that Tinubu who is a former Governor of Lagos state, “fought a lawsuit in which the US accused him of laundering proceeds of heroin trafficking and eventually reached a settlement”.
The article read;
“Front-runner Bola Tinubu, who secured the ruling party’s nomination earlier this month, was being investigated by the country’s anti-corruption agency as recently as last June. Three decades ago he fought a lawsuit in which the US government accused him of laundering the proceeds of heroin trafficking and eventually reached a settlement.
“In July 1993, when Tinubu briefly served as a Nigerian senator, the US government filed a forfeiture lawsuit in Chicago against bank accounts in his name, claiming there was “probable cause” to believe they held the proceeds of heroin dealing. The case followed a probe by the Internal Revenue Service and other agencies into a trafficking network involving Nigerian suppliers.
“The IRS secured warrants in January 1992 to seize almost $2 million, according to court filings. While living in Chicago between 1989 and 1991, Tinubu had deposited more than $1.8 million into one of the accounts, before transferring large sums to another bank, according to the US government’s complaint. While disputing the US’s reason for targeting the accounts, Tinubu settled in September 1993, agreeing to give up $460,000 to the US government in exchange for the release of the rest of the money. Tinubu wasn’t indicted over the matter.”
Reacting to the article, Gawat shared a screenshot of the part which stated that Tinubu was never indicted. He tweeted “Tinubu was never indicted over the matter”.
However, Nigerians have taken to media platforms to question Gawat’s business with defending Tinubu when his primary assignment is towards Sansom-Olu.
There have also been reactions that has seen many asking why Gawat would not allow Tinubu or his media person to do his job.
See reactions below:
Let the man in question answer for himself. I know very well that English language is a very big problem for him. And some of the youths want him to become the president of this country. I remain OBIDIENT
Another comment read:
If he was not guilty, why did he “settle” and then agree to forfeit part of the money. If the money was hard earned, do you think he will just forfeit like that?
And yet another comment read;
Really not indicted but you forfeited almost 500,000 US dollars , it is only a criminal that forfeits money to government No innocent person forfeits hard earned cash to Govt. Great grand father of Drug pushing.
An anonymous Nigerian wrote:
So wat is indictment wen he forfeited huge sums of money to us govt as father Christmas abi
Akin wrote, I thought you people said Tinubu made his money from Lagos State… Article says Tinubu had deposited $1.8million in the account between 1989 and 1991 many years before he ever became lagos governor
Yet another comment read: IRS can’t secure warrant with ‘probable cause’ If you are not guilty, you won’t settle! We were not born yesterday
An anonymous comment read, If you commit a financial crime in US, a very good lawyer will get you a deal with the prosecutors which may include 1) no indictment but you must assist in investigation to catch other participants 2) forfeiture to the government part or whole of the funds in contention. Nolle prosequi or no indictment means you reached agreement that they will not send you to prison. It is a plea bargain. Tinubu is a criminal. The processes in US law court is not mathematics. It is a deal process.
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