Group urges FG to arrest, prosecute Tinubu over alleged perjury
The Center for Reform and Public Advocacy (CRPA), a civil society organization, has called on the federal government to arrest and prosecute the presidential flag bearer of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, for alleged perjury.
The civil rights group issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police to arrest and commence criminal prosecution against Tinubu, for allegedly tendering false academic qualifications to secure his nomination.
The group made this known during a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, addressed by its Legal Adviser and human rights lawyer, Mr Agu Kalu.
CRPA warned that if theIGP failed to act, it would institute a court action against him for an order of mandamus to compel him to effect Tinubu’s arrest after the ultimatum.
Kalu maintained that Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and ex-senator, was not legally qualified to become the president of Nigeria in 2023 for supplying false information on oath in his form EC 9 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He alleged, amongst others, that in 1999, Tinubu claimed to have attended Saint Paul Aroloya Children Home School, Ibadan between 1958 and 1964 and Government College, Ibadan between 1965 and 1969, only to turn around in 2022 to claim that he never attended any primary or secondary school in his EC9 form.
“We wrote a petition to the IG on June 16, demanding the prosecution of Tinubu for providing false information on oath in his INEC form CF 001 which he submitted in 1999.
“Since the IG is yet to act on the petition, we are using this press conference to call on the IG to do the needful, he is not above the law, nobody is above the law, Sections 191 and 192 make it a criminal offence to provide false information on oath.
“We are also calling on President Buhari to direct the IG to arrest and prosecute Tinubu for perjury, it is a very serious issue,” Kalu said.
Reacting to the group’s threat, however, the Director of the Legal Directorate, Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), said that Tinubu had acted in full compliance with the provisions of the electoral law.
Ogala said that the Tinubu Campaign Organisation was ready to meet the CRPA in court and warned the CSO of the severe consequences of defamation.
“There is nothing to respond to them, the Electoral Act is clear. We are waiting, let them go, let them bring the writ, we will defend it.
“I think we have gone past this stage of some people on social media, for whatever reason in the media, issuing threats.
“If they have anything, let them bring it. As far as we are concerned, our candidate has complied fully with the provisions of the Electoral Act. If they want to go to court, let them go to court.
“But we must also let them know that we are not unconscious of the laws of defamation in the country. We know the difference between a court process that is privileged and making unfounded allegations in the Newspapers like they are doing now.
“But honestly, our candidate is not perturbed, he can’t be bothered by all these threats. If they want to go to court, let them go to court.
“When they come, we will react appropriately to the court process. What we know, we have complied fully with the provisions of the law and we will not be blackmailed and intimidated,” Ogala said.
